Tortured Soul

Tortured Soul

Chapter 01- Draco's Courage

He was running. Running away from this nightmare, from this new world. His world. He had not meant to let it get quite this far. He had never wanted to join the dark side. Not really. It had chosen him. There was no going back. Not now, not ever.

His feet carried him down a path, but he wasn't paying any attention to where it led. He just wanted to curl up in a ball and hide. His breathing coming in quick, desperate pants he closed his eyes and fell to the floor. His head rested on the wall behind him as angry tears streamed down his face. He wiped them furiously with fisted hands and sighed in desperation. What should he do?

Draco opened his eyes and took in his surroundings for the first time. He found himself curious as to where he was. He willed his hazy mind to come up with an answer, but none came. He knew this place, this corridor. He rose to his feet and wiped dust from his robes. Leaning lightly against the wall, he attempted to get his breath back whilst still puzzling out his location.

A muffled sound came from behind him. He jumped and turned to press his ear to the wall, when a door appeared. Something told Draco that waiting behind that door was something amazing, something magical. But it was just a door, wasn't it?

As Draco was wondering if he should investigate or turn away, he heard a scream of pain coming from the other side of the door. It was followed by quiet sobbing and if he really strained to hear, muttered words. He went to grab the doorknob but hesitated when he realised there was silence. Why had it stopped?

Gathering all his courage, he gently pushed the door open and popped his head in to the room. At first it appeared to be empty but then he saw something he wished with all his heart he hadn't. There slumped in a pool of blood was a young teenage girl. She looked up when he entered and their eyes met. She held his gaze but he had to look away. He was terrified of this girl and yet she held no threat to him. She looked so young, so vulnerable, so horribly alone. Her dark hair was matted with clumps of blood and her face was so bruised it was a mess of green and purple.

Draco peered at her from the corner of his eye and was relieved to see she had looked away. Now she cowered in the corner, staring into space, rocking. Her arms were clasped around her knees so that Draco could see her naked wrists which had been scratched and sliced at. He shuddered as he wondered how she had got in such a state.

He slowly approached her. Her dark curls swung as she snapped her head to look at him. "Don't touch me!"

Draco froze. "I just want to help," he whispered. "What's happened to you?"

The intensity of her gaze seemed to burn into him and he flinched. "I just want to help," he repeated.

"You can't help me. No-one can help me now," she whispered back eventually. "Turn back, please. You shouldn't have come here."

"I didn't mean to... I didn't come here on purpose! What is this place anyway?"

She closed her eyes and for a moment he thought she had fainted.

"Hello?"

Her eyes fluttered open and she sobbed: "I don't remember!"

Draco had a sudden urge to hold the girl in his arms and protect her. He squatted down so he was at the same level as her and said softly: "It doesn't matter."

She nodded and bowed her head. Draco sighed gently and settled himself more comfortably on the floor. "What's your name?"

"Ebony."

"That's an unusual name," he murmured. "What house are you in?"

Ebony peered at him under her dark lashes. "Griffindor... Why?"

"I just haven't seen you before, is all. I'm sure you're not in any of my classes..."

"Oh, well... I wouldn't be. I'm a fifth year..."

His heart sank. She's only sixteen...

"That explains it then," he muttered.

A quivering hand was laid lightly on his and he looked up in shock. Ebony's ocean blue eyes were less than a centimetre away...

"What's your name then?"

Draco slowly exhaled as she moved away. "Draco. Draco Malfoy."

"Oh."

They sat in silence for a long time after that. Each sneaked glances at the other, but neither noticed.