[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 )
"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. "Shut up shut up shut up! I'm not listening to you any more! Get out of here!" Resolutely Draco turned back to Remus, but the trembling of his hands on the other man's arms betrayed how nervous he really was.
"Please-" Draco whispered after a long moment of silence, "please I don't know what to do ..." He sounded very young, and very frightened and like he wasn't even really sure what he was asking for. He stared up at Lupin with big imploring gray eyes.
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