When The Tides Turn (Chapter 6)
Draco fell on his knees and vomited. He was numb. His mind was in too much pain to decipher anything. He only knew there was a raw wound in his heart that he did not want to prod at the moment.
‘No. 4 Private Drive.’ That was his destination he remembered. So he stood shakily and dragged his battered body through the identical row of houses.
‘No.12, No. 11,No.10, No.9, No.8’ Draco’s step faltered. The pain potion has long been worn off. The pain made his head swim. Still he continued. Only three houses more.
He crossed the front garden, stood in front of the door and knocked with all his might.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxHarry was lying on his bed thinking about horecruxes. ‘ The locket, Hupplepuff’s cup, the snake and something from Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.’ They already destroyed the diary. But the locket was fake. The locket that made Dumbledore so weak that even Malfoy can overpower him. But, still there was hope. Malfoy was almost ready to take Dumbledore’s offer and take refuge but the evil bastard Snape killed Dumbledore before anything. Harry punched the hard wood of the bed in anger. Anger for Snape for killing Dumbledore, for Malfoy for bringing death eaters in Hogwarts, for Albus because his inability to protect himself and thrusting such huge responsibility on Harry and anger for himself because he could not do anything. Even after everything he lost again against Snape and the bastard and Malfoy ran away.
After Dumbledor’s funeral he returned to Private Drive. He planned with Ron and Hermione that they would not return to school this year. With Dumbledore gone the school would not be safe for them. Instead they were going to search for horecruxes from Grimmauld palace. Ron and Hermione did not inform about this decision to their parents yet. Harry knew Molly would go nuts hearing about this and he felt guilty for doing this with his friends. But he needed them. Without them he could not handle this huge burden placed upon him.
Life in Private Drive was better than previous few years. The Dursleys seemed to avoid him which was nice for a change. He still woke early, made food and did all the chores. He did gardening and ironing after that. It was nice. It took his mind off things. He hid some books under his loose floor board beneath his bed which he read during his spare time.
Harry was trying to read the book on ancient artefacts for last fifteen minutes but his mind was wandering off on his own. Suddenly he heard a loud knock on his front door. Hedwig hooted in annoyance.
“Boy! Answer the bloody door! It was one of your people.” A very purple faced Vernon shouted “Let him go away before anyone sees him. He is wearing a cloak for goodness sake.”
Harry bolt upright. Who has come? Is it Order of Phoenix? Did the deatheaters finally overpower the wards?
He ran to the front door and stared through peep hole. The man was blonde but his hair was matted with something. He was kneeling on the door step, his head bowed, his hand clutching his mid-section.
‘Is it a trap? But anyone with evil intention towards him would be unable to identify and enter this house.
Harry took a deep breath and opened the door.
It was Malfoy. Harry recognized him just by looking at his hair. It was the joke of the century. Malfoy. Harry’s enemy and rival was sitting on the front of his door.
“What are you doing here?” Harry asked angrily.
Malfoy lifted his head. His face was bruised and bloodied, eyes swollen and blackened, chapped lips bleeding, hair covered in blood. His grey eyes despite its injuries were stormy with emotion.
“I am asking what you are doing in my house?” Harry snarled, Dumbledore’s face flashed through his mind “trying to bring deatheaters inside like Hogwarts?”
Draco was speechless. What was he doing here? How can he describe what happened in these three days. How his mother, Severus and he tried to escape dark lord’s clutches and failed. How his father died trying to save him. How he was responsible for his parents and godfather’s death.
“I…”
“I what Malfoy?”
“I need help.” Draco hesitated “Death eaters are after me.” Somewhere far away a howl can be heard. Draco shivered. Tonight is the night of full moon.
“What?” Harry was beyond astonished.
“I…I need sanctuary Potter.”
“What? Why? What about your parents? Are they with them?”
“No. We lost dark lord’s favour.”
Harry was angry with the situation. He was angry with Malfoy. How dare he come here looking for help after what he did to Dumbledore.
“So, the Malfoys have lost favour!” Harry wriggled his eye brow “I am wondering what they did to be at receiving end of Voldemort’s wrath!” Harry mocked, his inside was burning with anger as he remember Dumbledore’s helpless figure at the mercy of Draco’s wand “May be Voldemort got bored with your mother. She cannot bring him to pleasure anymore. That’s it. Isn’t it?”
As the word left his mouth Harry knew he overdid it this time. But the words were already left and if that made Malfoy go away he would not return his word. Malfoy never leaves any opportunity to insult Lily or Molly. So, why not he?
A wandtip poked at his rib as he found out Draco’s crouched figure pointing his wand at his heart.
“DO NOT TALK ANYTHING ABOUT HER” Draco gritted through his teeth, his voice raspy and eyes murderous “You are not worthy enough to talk about my parents!” Draco was panting “I’ll go away. I do not need your help. I was wrong assuming you lot are better persons than them. But you are same. Petty, vicious and cruel who take pleasure on other’s pain and helplessness.”
Harry was speechless. That ferrety git came to his house asking for sanctuary. What did he think? Harry would welcome him with open arms like they are best pals? And then he dared to train his wand on Harry. A little voice chirped inside his mind that he deserved it this time.
“I do not care what happened to you Malfoy. Whatever happens with you and your parents you deserve it.” Harry was cruel.
“No! My parents did not deserve it!” Draco’s wand shook as his hand trembled, his eyes stormy with unsaid pain but his face determined as another howl was heard from somewhere “I will not bother you Potter. Forget I came here first place” Draco tried to stand up from his sitting position but he fell. He tried again and this time with the help from wall he stood trembling on his feet. His whole world was blurred with pain.
Harry saw a very agitated Draco tried to stand and falling down. His whole body was trembling violently. He was shocked to see Draco’s reaction to his words. He assumed that Draco would react violently and would insult Harry’s parents in return. But never did he thought he would defend his parents honour so strongly without insulting Harry’s parents a single time. Draco’s words impacted on his mind. “Petty! Vicious! Cruel! Who takes pleasure on other’s pain and helplessness!”
‘Didn’t he act the same? When someone asked him for help and sanctuary he insulted the person’s parents driving them away fully knowing may be death was awaiting him. Harry knew a werewolf’s howl when he hears the sound.
When Malfoy stood supporting the wall Harry finally noticed it. The blood! Thick and dark pooled at the place where Draco was seated. He turned and stared at Draco again and saw the heavy damage to his face, his bloodied hair and the odd way his left arm was bent.
Draco was afraid to take steps. He feared he would fall down with vertigo. The after effects of cruciatus, his beatings at the hand of fellow death eaters, the violent rapes and the recent battle had finally taken toll on his body. He was exhausted and in severe pain. But he needed to go. He should go before Potter insults his parents again. He could not bear it. Very cautiously he took his first step, but as he feared with it his vision blurred, the world tilted and floor came up to hit his head.
Harry watched as Draco took step and began to fall down on the hard floor. Instinctively he reached out and held him around waist to prevent his fall.
Draco’s vision darkened. He knew he had not fallen. A strong pair of hands was now holding him, protecting him. With this knowledge he fell into depth of unconsciousness.
‘No. 4 Private Drive.’ That was his destination he remembered. So he stood shakily and dragged his battered body through the identical row of houses.
‘No.12, No. 11,No.10, No.9, No.8’ Draco’s step faltered. The pain potion has long been worn off. The pain made his head swim. Still he continued. Only three houses more.
He crossed the front garden, stood in front of the door and knocked with all his might.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxHarry was lying on his bed thinking about horecruxes. ‘ The locket, Hupplepuff’s cup, the snake and something from Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.’ They already destroyed the diary. But the locket was fake. The locket that made Dumbledore so weak that even Malfoy can overpower him. But, still there was hope. Malfoy was almost ready to take Dumbledore’s offer and take refuge but the evil bastard Snape killed Dumbledore before anything. Harry punched the hard wood of the bed in anger. Anger for Snape for killing Dumbledore, for Malfoy for bringing death eaters in Hogwarts, for Albus because his inability to protect himself and thrusting such huge responsibility on Harry and anger for himself because he could not do anything. Even after everything he lost again against Snape and the bastard and Malfoy ran away.
After Dumbledor’s funeral he returned to Private Drive. He planned with Ron and Hermione that they would not return to school this year. With Dumbledore gone the school would not be safe for them. Instead they were going to search for horecruxes from Grimmauld palace. Ron and Hermione did not inform about this decision to their parents yet. Harry knew Molly would go nuts hearing about this and he felt guilty for doing this with his friends. But he needed them. Without them he could not handle this huge burden placed upon him.
Life in Private Drive was better than previous few years. The Dursleys seemed to avoid him which was nice for a change. He still woke early, made food and did all the chores. He did gardening and ironing after that. It was nice. It took his mind off things. He hid some books under his loose floor board beneath his bed which he read during his spare time.
Harry was trying to read the book on ancient artefacts for last fifteen minutes but his mind was wandering off on his own. Suddenly he heard a loud knock on his front door. Hedwig hooted in annoyance.
“Boy! Answer the bloody door! It was one of your people.” A very purple faced Vernon shouted “Let him go away before anyone sees him. He is wearing a cloak for goodness sake.”
Harry bolt upright. Who has come? Is it Order of Phoenix? Did the deatheaters finally overpower the wards?
He ran to the front door and stared through peep hole. The man was blonde but his hair was matted with something. He was kneeling on the door step, his head bowed, his hand clutching his mid-section.
‘Is it a trap? But anyone with evil intention towards him would be unable to identify and enter this house.
Harry took a deep breath and opened the door.
It was Malfoy. Harry recognized him just by looking at his hair. It was the joke of the century. Malfoy. Harry’s enemy and rival was sitting on the front of his door.
“What are you doing here?” Harry asked angrily.
Malfoy lifted his head. His face was bruised and bloodied, eyes swollen and blackened, chapped lips bleeding, hair covered in blood. His grey eyes despite its injuries were stormy with emotion.
“I am asking what you are doing in my house?” Harry snarled, Dumbledore’s face flashed through his mind “trying to bring deatheaters inside like Hogwarts?”
Draco was speechless. What was he doing here? How can he describe what happened in these three days. How his mother, Severus and he tried to escape dark lord’s clutches and failed. How his father died trying to save him. How he was responsible for his parents and godfather’s death.
“I…”
“I what Malfoy?”
“I need help.” Draco hesitated “Death eaters are after me.” Somewhere far away a howl can be heard. Draco shivered. Tonight is the night of full moon.
“What?” Harry was beyond astonished.
“I…I need sanctuary Potter.”
“What? Why? What about your parents? Are they with them?”
“No. We lost dark lord’s favour.”
Harry was angry with the situation. He was angry with Malfoy. How dare he come here looking for help after what he did to Dumbledore.
“So, the Malfoys have lost favour!” Harry wriggled his eye brow “I am wondering what they did to be at receiving end of Voldemort’s wrath!” Harry mocked, his inside was burning with anger as he remember Dumbledore’s helpless figure at the mercy of Draco’s wand “May be Voldemort got bored with your mother. She cannot bring him to pleasure anymore. That’s it. Isn’t it?”
As the word left his mouth Harry knew he overdid it this time. But the words were already left and if that made Malfoy go away he would not return his word. Malfoy never leaves any opportunity to insult Lily or Molly. So, why not he?
A wandtip poked at his rib as he found out Draco’s crouched figure pointing his wand at his heart.
“DO NOT TALK ANYTHING ABOUT HER” Draco gritted through his teeth, his voice raspy and eyes murderous “You are not worthy enough to talk about my parents!” Draco was panting “I’ll go away. I do not need your help. I was wrong assuming you lot are better persons than them. But you are same. Petty, vicious and cruel who take pleasure on other’s pain and helplessness.”
Harry was speechless. That ferrety git came to his house asking for sanctuary. What did he think? Harry would welcome him with open arms like they are best pals? And then he dared to train his wand on Harry. A little voice chirped inside his mind that he deserved it this time.
“I do not care what happened to you Malfoy. Whatever happens with you and your parents you deserve it.” Harry was cruel.
“No! My parents did not deserve it!” Draco’s wand shook as his hand trembled, his eyes stormy with unsaid pain but his face determined as another howl was heard from somewhere “I will not bother you Potter. Forget I came here first place” Draco tried to stand up from his sitting position but he fell. He tried again and this time with the help from wall he stood trembling on his feet. His whole world was blurred with pain.
Harry saw a very agitated Draco tried to stand and falling down. His whole body was trembling violently. He was shocked to see Draco’s reaction to his words. He assumed that Draco would react violently and would insult Harry’s parents in return. But never did he thought he would defend his parents honour so strongly without insulting Harry’s parents a single time. Draco’s words impacted on his mind. “Petty! Vicious! Cruel! Who takes pleasure on other’s pain and helplessness!”
‘Didn’t he act the same? When someone asked him for help and sanctuary he insulted the person’s parents driving them away fully knowing may be death was awaiting him. Harry knew a werewolf’s howl when he hears the sound.
When Malfoy stood supporting the wall Harry finally noticed it. The blood! Thick and dark pooled at the place where Draco was seated. He turned and stared at Draco again and saw the heavy damage to his face, his bloodied hair and the odd way his left arm was bent.
Draco was afraid to take steps. He feared he would fall down with vertigo. The after effects of cruciatus, his beatings at the hand of fellow death eaters, the violent rapes and the recent battle had finally taken toll on his body. He was exhausted and in severe pain. But he needed to go. He should go before Potter insults his parents again. He could not bear it. Very cautiously he took his first step, but as he feared with it his vision blurred, the world tilted and floor came up to hit his head.
Harry watched as Draco took step and began to fall down on the hard floor. Instinctively he reached out and held him around waist to prevent his fall.
Draco’s vision darkened. He knew he had not fallen. A strong pair of hands was now holding him, protecting him. With this knowledge he fell into depth of unconsciousness.