Fic: September Morn (Part Two)
First, before you bother with this, go read the latest part of olivia_lupin's Gryff!Draco story Same Time, Next Year. She's reached Year Six, so only one more year to go. I am desperately trying to get her to write more.
So, onto September Morn. First, thank you so much for the feedback on the first bit. I was surprised that people liked it really. The story isn't going quite as I thought it would, but here is the next bit.
September Morn
A post-Hogwarts H/D story
Rating PG (at the moment)
Part Two of Possibly Four
Betaed by olivia_lupin ... thank you.
********************
The images seemed so real that it took him a moment to realise he was dreaming. It was the blood red sky visible through the window that finally gave away the secret -- skies like that didn’t exist except in dreams. Even though he was dreaming, he knew it was the red of a sunset rather than a sunrise, and that made him shiver with fear.
Sunset led to night. Night always led to memories. Memories were always of that one night almost eighteen months ago.
And that always led to night terrors.
He usually slept with a light on since then and even so, the terrors still came back, leaving him shaking and drenched in sweat.
So he focused on the dream, not the blood red sky.
He was not alone in the book-lined room with its empty fire grate. The person with him was a scruffy-haired man who was crouched down by one of the bookshelves, which had been swung away from the wall. When the man finally stood, he was holding two objects, both glowing red from the reflection of the sky. He held out a sphere the size of his fist. “Okay, you take this and I’ll take the wand.”
With a nod, he took the sphere, already able to sense the magic flowing from it into his hands. It felt heavier than it looked and he was scared he might drop it. “We need to get out, the masking charms aren’t going to last much longer.”
Harry (he finally knew that the person with him was Harry) cocked his head to one side as if trying to sense something. “And then we should separate.”
“No!”
“Yes. That way if one of us gets caught they will only have one piece. And we know they need both for the plan.”
********************
The sky was no longer red when he finally opened his eyes. Instead it was the pale blue/grey of early morning and it was already cloudless, the makings of a fine day. For several minutes he stared out of the window, eyes fixed on a sparrow as it hopped back and forth on the sill, aware of the sound of voices somewhere nearby. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, just the rise and fall of a conversation he wasn’t privy to.
Draco twisted onto his back, his stiffened limbs painful as he tried to move. It hurt all down his right side and the movement made his head throb in time with his heart beat. Not moving seemed an option, but as the dream floated up from the depths, it stirred his memory. He recalled Granger saying Harry hadn’t returned, but not much else. What had happened after that was vague, but he remembered being unable to get to his feet without help and then passing out in Lupin’s arms. He needed to talk to Harry -- to check that the other man was okay and that he’d returned from their mission uninjured. Then there were the two artefacts they’d stolen. He wanted to know if they’d got them in time and whether they’d been carefully hidden away from Voldemort and his followers.
Biting back a hiss of pain, he pulled himself up to lean back against the pillows. Just that small exertion felt too much and, closing his eyes, he lay there for a moment panting as he swallowed back the pain.
“Oh, you’re finally awake.”
Draco opened his eyes to watch the busy movements of Poppy Pomfrey. She turned back his covers, straightened sheets and finally pushed what he assumed was a thermometer into his mouth. As she worked, she carried on chatting, her tone belying the seriousness of the conversation. She could have been discussing the weather.
“You’ve been asleep for a couple of days now. Well, in and out of consciousness, but you were very lucky, Draco, very lucky.” She pulled out the thermometer, gave a long ‘hmmmm’ as she studied it. “At least that’s finally back to normal.” Then pushing the hair from her patient’s eyes, she stared at him. “You are lucky to be alive, young man. Whoever used that Incendio curse on you added a nice little sting to its tail. If you hadn’t been treated straight away, goodness knows what the consequences would have been.”
He stared at the woman, wanting to say something but unable to speak as the enormity of what she had just said hit home. Lucky to be alive.
“Come on. This will help.” Poppy’s hand pushed behind his neck, supporting his head as she pressed a small cup to his lips
Draco swallowed the potion she was feeding him, his mind in a different place. His father had tried to kill him. His father! He and Lucius might be on different sides in this conflict but up until this moment he’d never expected that he might have to kill the man or that his father might do the same thing to him. But now....
Had Lucius deliberately enhanced the curse and then used it knowing it could seriously harm his son? That thought cut into him like a knife. If Poppy was telling him the truth (and Draco had no reason to doubt her), then this changed everything. His thoughts focused suddenly on his mother. Did she know? Did she approve?
He couldn’t deal with this, not now, not at the moment. There had to be other things to think about ... other things to take his mind away from what his father had done. Finally he spoke, voice a little hoarse. “How long have I been here?”
“Today’s Saturday, so it’s been three days. Has that potion started working yet?”
It had, Draco decided, the muzziness in his head was clearing and the feeling of sickness was beginning to dissipate as well. He gave a nod. “It has, thanks.”
“Good.” She scribbled something onto a sheet of parchment. “But what you need is rest. Your wife stopped by yesterday.”
Draco groaned, staring at the ceiling for a moment, wanting to say ‘ex-wife’ but deciding not to bother with the correction. He’d made many mistakes in his life, but the marriage had been one of epic proportions. The only good thing to come out of the time he’d spent with the woman was his son, Leo. “Poppy, can you get a message to Harry? I need to talk to him.”
She looked at him; her expression one of sudden concern and the normally talkative woman seemed lost for words. “Let me get Remus.” With that she hurried from the room.
Frowning, Draco stared at her retreating back and then threw back the sheets. He had no intention of waiting here while Poppy disappeared for god knew how long. With some effort he managed to sit up, but by the time he’d swung his legs over the side of the bed, a wave of giddiness swept over him, making him feel sick again. The room started spinning and continued to do so even when he closed his eyes.
“Hold on there a moment.” The soft baritone voice belonged to Remus. Strong hands took hold of his shoulders and Draco didn’t resist as he was pushed gently back onto the bed and tucked back in under the covers. “You aren’t going anywhere for the moment, my boy.”
“Harry--” He opened his eyes, trying to look at the older man’s face, but it kept spinning in front of him. “I need to talk to him.”
“I’m sorry, Draco.” Remus sat down beside the bed. “He isn’t here.”
Draco blinked, a little confused. “I need to talk to him,” he repeated.
“He hasn’t come back.”
“What?”
“Harry didn’t return from the mission and we still don’t know where he is.”
~~~ End of Part Two
Part three:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/dragon_charmer/141627.html
8th September 2004
So, onto September Morn. First, thank you so much for the feedback on the first bit. I was surprised that people liked it really. The story isn't going quite as I thought it would, but here is the next bit.
September Morn
A post-Hogwarts H/D story
Rating PG (at the moment)
Part Two of Possibly Four
Betaed by olivia_lupin ... thank you.
********************
The images seemed so real that it took him a moment to realise he was dreaming. It was the blood red sky visible through the window that finally gave away the secret -- skies like that didn’t exist except in dreams. Even though he was dreaming, he knew it was the red of a sunset rather than a sunrise, and that made him shiver with fear.
Sunset led to night. Night always led to memories. Memories were always of that one night almost eighteen months ago.
And that always led to night terrors.
He usually slept with a light on since then and even so, the terrors still came back, leaving him shaking and drenched in sweat.
So he focused on the dream, not the blood red sky.
He was not alone in the book-lined room with its empty fire grate. The person with him was a scruffy-haired man who was crouched down by one of the bookshelves, which had been swung away from the wall. When the man finally stood, he was holding two objects, both glowing red from the reflection of the sky. He held out a sphere the size of his fist. “Okay, you take this and I’ll take the wand.”
With a nod, he took the sphere, already able to sense the magic flowing from it into his hands. It felt heavier than it looked and he was scared he might drop it. “We need to get out, the masking charms aren’t going to last much longer.”
Harry (he finally knew that the person with him was Harry) cocked his head to one side as if trying to sense something. “And then we should separate.”
“No!”
“Yes. That way if one of us gets caught they will only have one piece. And we know they need both for the plan.”
********************
The sky was no longer red when he finally opened his eyes. Instead it was the pale blue/grey of early morning and it was already cloudless, the makings of a fine day. For several minutes he stared out of the window, eyes fixed on a sparrow as it hopped back and forth on the sill, aware of the sound of voices somewhere nearby. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, just the rise and fall of a conversation he wasn’t privy to.
Draco twisted onto his back, his stiffened limbs painful as he tried to move. It hurt all down his right side and the movement made his head throb in time with his heart beat. Not moving seemed an option, but as the dream floated up from the depths, it stirred his memory. He recalled Granger saying Harry hadn’t returned, but not much else. What had happened after that was vague, but he remembered being unable to get to his feet without help and then passing out in Lupin’s arms. He needed to talk to Harry -- to check that the other man was okay and that he’d returned from their mission uninjured. Then there were the two artefacts they’d stolen. He wanted to know if they’d got them in time and whether they’d been carefully hidden away from Voldemort and his followers.
Biting back a hiss of pain, he pulled himself up to lean back against the pillows. Just that small exertion felt too much and, closing his eyes, he lay there for a moment panting as he swallowed back the pain.
“Oh, you’re finally awake.”
Draco opened his eyes to watch the busy movements of Poppy Pomfrey. She turned back his covers, straightened sheets and finally pushed what he assumed was a thermometer into his mouth. As she worked, she carried on chatting, her tone belying the seriousness of the conversation. She could have been discussing the weather.
“You’ve been asleep for a couple of days now. Well, in and out of consciousness, but you were very lucky, Draco, very lucky.” She pulled out the thermometer, gave a long ‘hmmmm’ as she studied it. “At least that’s finally back to normal.” Then pushing the hair from her patient’s eyes, she stared at him. “You are lucky to be alive, young man. Whoever used that Incendio curse on you added a nice little sting to its tail. If you hadn’t been treated straight away, goodness knows what the consequences would have been.”
He stared at the woman, wanting to say something but unable to speak as the enormity of what she had just said hit home. Lucky to be alive.
“Come on. This will help.” Poppy’s hand pushed behind his neck, supporting his head as she pressed a small cup to his lips
Draco swallowed the potion she was feeding him, his mind in a different place. His father had tried to kill him. His father! He and Lucius might be on different sides in this conflict but up until this moment he’d never expected that he might have to kill the man or that his father might do the same thing to him. But now....
Had Lucius deliberately enhanced the curse and then used it knowing it could seriously harm his son? That thought cut into him like a knife. If Poppy was telling him the truth (and Draco had no reason to doubt her), then this changed everything. His thoughts focused suddenly on his mother. Did she know? Did she approve?
He couldn’t deal with this, not now, not at the moment. There had to be other things to think about ... other things to take his mind away from what his father had done. Finally he spoke, voice a little hoarse. “How long have I been here?”
“Today’s Saturday, so it’s been three days. Has that potion started working yet?”
It had, Draco decided, the muzziness in his head was clearing and the feeling of sickness was beginning to dissipate as well. He gave a nod. “It has, thanks.”
“Good.” She scribbled something onto a sheet of parchment. “But what you need is rest. Your wife stopped by yesterday.”
Draco groaned, staring at the ceiling for a moment, wanting to say ‘ex-wife’ but deciding not to bother with the correction. He’d made many mistakes in his life, but the marriage had been one of epic proportions. The only good thing to come out of the time he’d spent with the woman was his son, Leo. “Poppy, can you get a message to Harry? I need to talk to him.”
She looked at him; her expression one of sudden concern and the normally talkative woman seemed lost for words. “Let me get Remus.” With that she hurried from the room.
Frowning, Draco stared at her retreating back and then threw back the sheets. He had no intention of waiting here while Poppy disappeared for god knew how long. With some effort he managed to sit up, but by the time he’d swung his legs over the side of the bed, a wave of giddiness swept over him, making him feel sick again. The room started spinning and continued to do so even when he closed his eyes.
“Hold on there a moment.” The soft baritone voice belonged to Remus. Strong hands took hold of his shoulders and Draco didn’t resist as he was pushed gently back onto the bed and tucked back in under the covers. “You aren’t going anywhere for the moment, my boy.”
“Harry--” He opened his eyes, trying to look at the older man’s face, but it kept spinning in front of him. “I need to talk to him.”
“I’m sorry, Draco.” Remus sat down beside the bed. “He isn’t here.”
Draco blinked, a little confused. “I need to talk to him,” he repeated.
“He hasn’t come back.”
“What?”
“Harry didn’t return from the mission and we still don’t know where he is.”
~~~ End of Part Two
Part three:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/dragon_charmer/141627.html
8th September 2004