94Chapter 5: This Place of Wrath and Tears
When he emerged from the passage behind the statue of the one-eyed witch, Ginny was sitting on the plinth waiting for him.
"Holy shit! What are you doing here, Ginny? You scared the life out of me! How'd you even know I would come this way?" he asked.
"Lucky guess. When I didn't see you coming back with the others, I figured you'd be sneaking back into the castle, and this is the tunnel Fred and George always used," she shrugged.
Harry pulled her to her feet.
"Well, it's after hours for you, so we'd best make ourselves scarce. If McGonagall or any of the other prefects spot us, we'll definitely be in detention, and we'll miss the Quidditch meeting." He took her hand and they began to walk.
"The Saviour of the Wizarding World in detention?" she scoffed.
"I am reasonably certain that McGonagall couldn't care less what the rest of the world calls me. 'We have rules for a reason, Potter.'" He mimicked the headmistress' brogue.
They shortly found themselves on the seventh floor corridor in front of a tapestry depicting a wizard teaching trolls to dance. Ginny paced in front of the opposite wall, and a door appeared on her third pass, swinging open quietly. They stepped into the room of requirement and looked around in awe.
"It looks completely unscathed!" Harry exclaimed in an amazed whisper.
The room was simply furnished with a squishy loveseat before a warm fireplace. They sat down, and Harry pulled her into his arms.
"I looked for you earlier, before I went to the pub. I thought you were going to be in the library."
"Luna decided to go with Rolf and Hagrid to see the new Thestral foals. I decided to go down to the Quidditch pitch instead." She shrugged.
"Oh." Harry thought it odd that Hagrid hadn't mentioned anything about Thestrals foaling. He was usually very excited to share news of the beasts he looked after. He shrugged it off and turned his attention to Ginny. "So, what's all this about?"
"I wanted to apologize, you know, about the other day? The whole thing with The Prophet—I suppose I did overreact a bit."
"It's water under the bridge, love. Although, I should warn you, some busty witch accosted me on the high street tonight. There were loads of people about, so I wouldn't be surprised if someone took our picture. I had to practically peel her off of me," he replied.
"That explains the smell," she said, screwing up her face. He looked at her curiously. "Bello Magicae—it's a discount potion that's designed to stimulate lustful intentions. J. Pippin's Potions sells it. Nanette Desford used to wear it all the time during Fourth Year."
"Oh. Well, I guess it must not work too well then, because I hardly noticed a scent, and I certainly wasn't attracted to her."
"Well, anyway. I'm sorry about the way I behaved. I guess I was also still a bit upset with Mum and Dad, so I was taking out my frustration on you."
"Why is that?" Harry asked, looking down at her.
"Ron didn't tell you?" She looked at him. He shook his head. Ginny reached into her pocket and pulled out a letter. "The Harpies offered me a position on their reserve team."
"That's great!" Harry exclaimed.
"Mum and Dad won't let me go. They're insisting I finish school first. That's another whole year!" She complained. "I'm of age and it's the opportunity of a lifetime, but I've missed it. I can't believe they said 'no'! Playing Quidditch for the Harpies is all I've ever wanted to do, Harry!"
"I'm sure that you haven't missed your opportunity, Ginny. You're an amazing Chaser. The Harpies had their eye on you despite the war. They'll keep watching. All you have to do is get out there this season and prove to them that you're worth the wait. Besides, Slughorn thinks you're the bee's knees, and as he counts Gwenog as a close personal friend, he'll boast about you nonstop, even if you aren't a Slytherin." Harry gave her a squeeze.
"I guess so," Ginny sighed. She rested her head on Harry's shoulder. He stared thoughtfully into the flames.
"Ginny, do you want to get married?" he asked.
"What?" She sat up, looking at him in shock. "Do I—are you—Harry, are you proposing to me?" she asked, eyes wide.
"Erm, well—no—I-I only meant—well, do you know what you want for your future? You've just said that it's been your life's dream to play professional Quidditch. Where do you see yourself after you finish Hogwarts? In five years?"
"Oh." Her shoulders slumped. "I-I don't know. I mean—hopefully Gwenog will still be interested in me after I finish Hogwarts. I hope to have at least one League Cup before I'm twenty. Why are you asking me this, Harry?" She faced him, leaning back against the opposite arm of the couch.
"Well, remember the other day when we talked? I told you that I'm still trying to discover me—my own sense of self—not defined by my past. I asked you why you love me."
"I don't know, Harry. I love you because—because the first time I ever laid eyes on you, I thought that you were so beautiful. You saved my life, and Dad's and Ron's. Because you have a big heart—you're so selfless—we wouldn't be here without you."
"I see." Harry studied his hands.
"What?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all." Harry shook his head and smiled at Ginny. She moved across the small settee, climbing into his lap, and pressed her lips to his. Harry returned the kiss, but his thoughts were far away from the moment.
When he entered his dormitory later, noticing that he could hear two distinct breathing patterns coming from inside the curtains of Neville's bed, Harry was still pondering Ginny's response to his question. She'd said exactly what he thought she would. He wasn't certain that was enough, and he wondered how long it could last.
Draco tossed and turned, hopelessly unable to exorcise the memories he thought he'd finally been able to bury.
"There is little time, one way or another," said Dumbledore. "So let us discuss your options, Draco."
"My options!" said Malfoy loudly. "I'm standing here with a wand—I'm about to kill you—"
"My dear boy, let us have no more pretense about that. If you were going to kill me, you would have done it when you first disarmed me, you would not have stopped for this pleasant chat about ways and means."
"I haven't got any options!" said Malfoy, and he was suddenly as white as Dumbledore. "I've got to do it! He'll kill me! He'll kill my whole family!"
The empty hospital wing echoed with the sound of Draco's restless whimpers as he relived the night atop the Astronomy tower, when the remains of all to which he had given his young life crashed around him.
"I can help you, Draco."
"No you can't," said Malfoy, his wand hand shaking very badly indeed. "Nobody can. He told me to do it or he'll kill me. I've got no choice…"
"Come over to the right side, Draco…you are not a killer…"
And then they were all there—the Carrows, Yaxley, and that horrid beast, Greyback—all of them urging him to carry out the deed, Fenrir salivating at the possible opportunity of having the honor—until Severus appeared, and he heard the headmaster's final utterance.
"Severus…please…"
And then it was over. Draco watched in frozen horror as the jet of green propelled Dumbledore over the crenel and he tumbled into the night. The silence was deafening as there was no terrified cry from the old wizard, his body already lifeless before it fell, and Draco's own scream had died in his throat, echoing only within the depths of his own mind.
He raced to the crenel, ignoring Severus commands, and flung himself into the air before anyone could stop him. Draco closed his eyes and waited for the ground to rise up and claim him, shattering his body, when suddenly he was snatched from the air.
"Wha—" he exclaimed in surprise, opening his eyes to discover that he'd rescued, held by another wizard who clung to the tail feathers of a magnificent phoenix. His savior's cloak and hood hid his face as they climbed into the air above the castle, until the great bird turned, diving into the trees on the far side of the lake. Draco let out a gasp.
Harry awoke with a start, gasping for air. He stared about in disorientation before he realized that he was in his own bed. Summoning his glasses, he checked his watch, noting that it was barely four in the morning. Once again, his scar was tingling, and his mind's eye was focused upon Draco, and that fateful night at the top of the Astronomy Tower. However, instead of chasing after Snape, Harry found himself clinging to a great bird, swooping in to catch Draco before he too plunged to his death.
It didn't make sense. Clearly, Draco had not died that night, so why had the events suddenly changed? Had he somehow confused the event with the incident in the Chamber of Secrets when Fawkes had arrived, healing the deadly wound he'd suffered from the basilisk, and carrying him away with Ginny, Ron and Lockhart? Harry shook his head and tried fruitlessly to return to sleep.
Finally, he found himself once again slipping from his bed with wand in hand. As he took up his invisibility cloak, Harry heard a small whimper. He froze and looked around the room. He heard another soft sigh, and noticed the movement of the draperies that shrouded Neville's bed.
"Shh! Harry will hear us!" he heard a female voice say.
"Secretum Placet!" Neville whispered, and although the curtains still showed evidence of activity within, the room grew quiet again. Harry pursed his lips to keep from laughing, and wrapped his cloak about himself.
Harry stole quietly through the castle, keeping an eye out for Mrs. Norris, the oddly perceptive cat that belonged to the school's caretaker, Argus Filch, as he went. As he approached the Hospital Wing, Harry saw a figure exit the Infirmary and run down the corridor. He gave chase, but to no avail. He crouched behind a suit of armor for a few minutes, certain that whoever had just escaped was using a disillusionment charm to conceal themselves, but no one appeared. Just as his knees and back began to protest his awkward position, Harry gave up and returned to the hospital wing.
He was surprised to find Draco sitting up in bed, staring at a small piece of parchment which he hastily hid the moment he noticed that he was no longer alone.
"You again? What is it with you, Potter? Longing for your favorite lodgings?" he sneered. Harry shrugged nonchalantly.
"Couldn't sleep. I suppose I've simply grown accustomed to sleeping rough and sharing my space with people who snore. Listening to Neville get a leg over doesn't exactly suffice as a lullaby. So—"
"Ugh! Now the image of Longbottom bashing the bishop will forever be embedded in my worst nightmares."
"Who said he was getting off with Madam Palm and her five sisters? I distinctly heard Hannah warn him that they were going to wake me. Of course, I had already awakened at that point, so…"
"Hannah Abbott? And Neville Longbottom? Huh, who would have thought?" Draco pulled a thoughtful expression.
"But you're not wanting for late night visitors, I see." Harry indicated the box of chocolates on his tray table. "Are they from Pansy?"
"I wouldn't know. I was asleep when it arrived."
"So, your late night benefactor didn't sign their name to the note?"
"What do you want, Potter?" Draco huffed impatiently.
"Seems a little suspicious, that's all. Are you sure they're safe to consume?" Harry gave the box a measured look.
"I—Potter, no!" Draco gasped as Harry took one of the candies and bit into it.
"Mm! Truffle!"
"You complete fucking, imbecile! What if—"
"So someone does mean you harm!" Harry stuffed the other half of the confection into his mouth and licked the chocolate from his fingers. Draco's breath hitched as he watched.
"I—no. I'm fine, Potter. Thank you very much. Nothing to worry your messy little head with."
"Fine. I was wondering though—you wouldn't happen to know someone named Perseus would you?" Draco took just a fraction too long to school his features, and Harry knew that he had hit on something.
"Once upon a time." A mournful expression flickered across his face for just a moment. He turned away from Harry. "You know, I am rather weary, Potter. Feel free to see yourself out." He made a shooing motion with his hand.
Harry waited a moment, hoping that Draco would share more, but knowing he wouldn't. Finally, he drew back the curtain and left. Draco listened to his retreating footsteps, biting his lip so hard that he was expecting to taste blood. He drew out the note that he'd hidden from Harry and unfolded it.
Forgive me. Though I know you won't tell, because if you do, I will destroy you. Everyone will know what you did.
The words blurred in his vision as his eyes clouded with tears. Draco swiped at his face with the back of his hand and crushed the note in his fist. When he opened his hand, a blue flame appeared, incinerating the parchment in seconds.
A tip o' the nib to the amazing J.K. Rowling, who gave us these characters, places and beasts. Draco's dream conversation on the Astronomy Tower is quoted from The Half-Blood Prince.