[yes moar halloween]
WHO: Draco, Lupin (if you want to tag in, ask first, k?)
WHERE: Draco's rooms
WHEN: right after this
WHAT: Draco's nightmares
( cut for length )
WHERE: Draco's rooms
WHEN: right after this
WHAT: Draco's nightmares
( cut for length )
"Draco, what's wrong?" He could see nothing there that would cause Draco to freak out, but it must have been something. Remus dashed up against the cage bars.
"Get away from the cage. Draco!" What the hell was going on with Draco? Remus could change at any time and Draco was dangerously close--Remus didn't know whether to stay near the cage and keep screaming to get Draco's attention or stay as far away as he possibly could.
Reply
He was now openly sobbing, and clearly not hearing a word Remus had said.
Reply
"Come on, come on," he chanted until the rope and the bars around him magically disappeared. He rushed to Draco, who wasn't that far away, and slapped him.
"Snap out of it!"
A spasm ran through his body and he willed himself--however futile it was--to not change into a werewolf.
Reply
"So is that how it is?" The Malfoy sneer was prominent on Lucius' face. "Not only do you not care for your family any more, but you also reject everything we've ever stood for, and you've taken up with this- this *filth*??"
"No, no it isn't like that I swear ..." Draco sobbed as he flinched away from his father's anger and clutched Remus even more tightly to himself. "Just please ... give me back my magic ... please, I'll do anything ..." He trembled as he clung to Remus, the knuckles of his hand white where they clenched on his wand and Remus' robe front.
Reply
"Draco, there's nothing there. It's OK. You have to snap out of this. Whatever's doing this to you is not real."
Reply
Behind him, the ghost of his father snorted. "Oh please, like that subhuman piece of trash could do anything to help you ..."
Anger suddenly flashing on his face, Draco turned back to look at his father. "He's not subhuman! You-" once again, Draco tried to cast a spell at the specters, and once again it failed completely. With a renewed sob, Draco went back to burying his face in Remus' chest. "Oh please please please let this be a nightmare, please please please help me pleeeease ..."
Reply
In actuality, Remus had no idea if this was true, but he figured anything with worth a shot.
Reply
"Seee!!!!" Draco resumed burying his face in Lupin's shirt front and sobbing. In his distress he'd clearly forgotten who he was with, or he didn't care anymore. "See ... I have no magic ... I'm nothing ... nothing ... nothing!" It was his worst nightmare come true.
Draco was clearly going to turn hysterical again soon, as he resumed hyperventilating.
Reply
"You'll get it back. You don't need magic now, anyway. These things--they aren't physical. Magic won't help. Just--gather your wits, OK?"
Remus reached for his wand and tested it out; it worked. Whatever was going on with the magic must only be intended for Draco, just like the werewolf thing was only intended for Remus. He saw how much distress not having magic was causing Draco.
"We'll work this--"
Remus was cut off as he'd started shaking again. It was stronger than before and lasted longer, but he held the transformation off, convincing himself it was all in his mind.
"It seems psychological," he said after it subsided. He still didn't feel well, though, and he had to admit it seemed more than psychological. But maybe if he could convince Draco there's nothing to fear...
Reply
"no ... no.. that's rubbish ..." But Draco sounded uncertain, and he wasn't relinquishing his grip on Remus, which had transferred to the man's arm when Remus had held him at arms length to look him in the eye.
When Remus shuddered, Draco didn't seem aware of what was going on, but his father certainly was. "Ho, and this is who you chose to cling to? This monster who's retaining his grip on his humanity by the barest of threads?"
Draco's head whipped around and he looked at Remus with alarmed eyes. But when the change did not manifest, he whipped back, and glared at his father again. "He's not a monster- ... well ok, he is" Draco conceded, "But he's not a bad monster. He doesn't want to hurt people not like that- that- thing you grovel for, following him around kissing his arse ..."
Lucius' eyes flashed with anger. "How dare you-""No!" Draco cut him off. " ( ... )
Reply
Remus opened his mouth to speak, but he threatened to vomit and shut it quickly. He was going to have to be honest to Draco.
"I--" As soon as Remus began to speak, the trembling began again and he was soon laying on his side, shaking uncontrollably. But it was important that he didn't transform. He was worried about how the transformation would effect Draco--he might hurt him physically, sure, but Draco's trust might be shaken, as well.
You've held it back before, these aren't real transformations. You can continue to hold the wolf off. You're strong enough.
Now, what should you tell Draco? That you're clueless, incompetent, useless? Anything you say will be admitting that in so many words.
Remus began gasping.
OK, don't think about that--concentrate on not transformation...it's more imperative that you don't transform.
Reply
"Yes, that's it," came his father's scornful voice. "Make lots of sudden movements and agitate the beast even more ... that's the way to go about it for sure."
Draco responded with a miniature sneer of his own. "If you're saying to do something, that means the smart thing to do is the opposite ... ok, calm, calm ... no sudden movements ..."
Biting his lip, and clamping down on his body to try to control the shaking, Draco cautiously moved back over to Lupin, and started stroking the man's back while making soothing noises. "Shh, it's all psychological, you don't have to do this ..." he murmured. "Just ... be calm ok ... calm ..."
Draco had no idea if his actions were helping or not, but since sitting there doing nothing made him feel worse, he continued to rub Lupin's back in soothing circles.
Reply
"I think you should get out of here," Remus said. "Get help. I can't hold off the transformations."
Remus pulled his knees up and leaned forward, thinking. "Wait. I think I have a plan. Draco, do you know how to cast a Patronus? Or at least the Ridikkulus spell? Try that next time you're being haunted. Just ignore them and concentrate on the magic. Forget that they make you unable to do it."
Remus decided not to tell Draco he wasn't sure his plan would work. What Draco needed was hope.
Reply
Once out in the hall, he collapsed against the wall panting. First Remus' transformation problems, and now this ...! Clearly something was going wrong in the base. Draco set off down the corridor to find help.
Reply
Leave a comment