The Heart Asks Darkness First

CHAPTER EIGHT - THE WOUNDED

The next time Draco woke up, it was to find a large, bearded man leaning over him. Still not quite having a hold on his bearings, he tried to back away only to find himself backed up against a wall. Hagrid shot him an almost sympathetic look. "It´s lucky I found yer, Malfoy," he said. "State you were in."

Draco´s memory was slowly catching up with him. He suddenly remembered his torture deep within the forest, and instinctively glanced around to try and spot his attackers. Hagrid shook his head, and in the warmest tone he had ever used towards the boy said, "Yer alrigh´ now, boy. There´s nothin´ can hurt yer in `ere."

A knock at the door alerted their attention. Hagrid went to open the door, and immediately moved back to allow Professor Snape inside. Draco looked at his head of House, a little afraid. Snape moved to sit next to his student. "Hagrid sent word when he found you. I came over as soon as I could."

"She´s lost...he´s got to her...nothing we can do now." Draco hardly seemed to have heard Snape´s words. He had pulled his knees up to his chest and was now rocking slightly. Snape gently reached for the boy´s shoulder. "I know that what happened to your mother has put a strain on you all. But-"

"Not her!" Draco trembled. "It´s all my fault. Should have left the stupid Weasel to find her own solution."

Snape looked more closely at him. "Draco, what are you talking about?"

"I´d, ah, I´d be careful with `im." Hagrid moved forward a little. "I woulda taken `im to the `Ospital Wing straigh´ away, only-"

"It´s alright, Hagrid. It´s probably just as well you did bring him here, some of the things he´s saying." Snape turned back to look at Draco. With sudden decision, he said "I´m taking him to my quarters. It´s the safest place for him."

Hagrid nodded. "Whatever you feel best, Professor Snape, sir. Will yer be okay takin´ him back?"

"I´m sure I´ll manage, thank you Hagrid." Snape gently moved to pick up the terrified blond. Sensing no resistance, he lifted him and moved towards the door. "And thank you for looking after him until I could get here."

"Yer welcome. Poor lad didn´ need much tendin´ to anyways. `E `and´t long woken up when yer arrived."

Snape nodded. "All the same, thank you."

Hagrid opened the door and Snape gently carried the boy out. Shutting the door behind them, Hagrid turned to Fang. "Wonder wha´s goin´ on there?"

~GW~ ~TR~

Ginny didn´t want to go back to the school that night. She had heard Hagrid walking about in the forest and knew that the half-giant would find Malfoy sooner or later. Part of her felt that she ought to feel guiltier, but Tom seemed pleased with her and that was all that mattered. All the same, she knew that people would come looking for her eventually. She turned to Tom. "I wish I could stay here with you."

"And so you shall, eventually." Tom stroked her hair. "There´s just one thing I need you to do for me."

Ginny looked at him, admiration in his eyes. "Anything."

Tom smiled. "I need you to get Harry into the Forest for me. I don´t care how you do it, but I want to speak to him."

Ginny was a little confused. She wasn´t sure why Tom wanted to see Harry, but would never have dreamed of questioning him. Instead, she promised, "Harry will be here tomorrow. I´ll make sure of it."

~GW~ ~TR~

Meanwhile, back at the school, students were beginning to leave the Hall after dinner. Throughout the meal rumours had been flying between students, and all the while Snape seemed to get more and more irritated. Hagrid kept shooting concerned looks at the Potions master, and even Dumbledore seemed perturbed by it all. Ron kept glancing at the door, getting more and more worked up each time he did so. Hermione gently nudged him. "Ron, stop it! She´ll turn up."

"Will she, though?" Ron snarled. "I mean, what if she´s decided to spend more time with..."

"Where do you suppose Malfoy is?" asked Harry. "I mean, I´ve heard people say they´ve seen him, but-"

"Oh, is this Malfoy we´re talking about?" Lavender Brown interrupted. "He has been acting oddly for a while, hasn´t he?"

"I mean, attacking Snape, what´s with that?" Parvati Patil joined in.

"That wasn´t his fault," Hermione replied. "I don´t know exactly what happened, but I know he would never have done it of his own accord."

"Done what of whose own accord?" Ginny had just rushed into the hall, and had fallen into a seat next to Harry. Ron glared at her. "Nice of you to join us, Ginny."

Ginny shot an equal glare back at her brother before turning to Hermione. "Where´s Malfoy?"

"No one seems to know," Hermione replied. "I think he´s in the school somewhere, but nobody can be sure."

"Oh." Ginny fell silent. `Well if he´s in the school he must be alright´ she reasoned to herself.

The group were interrupted by Snape. He turned to Ginny and said "Miss Weasley, we need to talk."

"Why?" Ginny didn´t care that she shouldn´t answer Snape back. It wasn´t like it would be important for much longer anyway. Soon she´d be with Tom forever, and that was the only thing that mattered.

Snape glared at her. "Don´t question me, Miss Weasley. In my office, now!"

~GW~ ~TR~

Tom stood outside the dungeon room, straining to listen to the conversation inside. It had been just as well that he was bound to Ginny - he could sense when she was in trouble. He wondered when he should make his presence known, if at all - what would the Head of Slytherin have to say to someone of his house before he was even born? `And someone who he later grew up to betray´ he thought to himself.

Inside the room, Ginny was sitting in stubborn silence. Snape shot her one of his most fear-instilling looks. "Ms Weasley, I asked you a question. Why have you not been attending classes?"

Ginny glared coolly back at him. "What´s it to you? McGonagall should be dealing with this."

"Maybe so." Snape leant closer as he snarled "But when one of my own House is caught up in it..."

"Ah Severus. You make him sound so innocent."

Ginny and Snape both looked up at the new voice. Ginny smiled. "Tom!"

"Hello Ginny. I got the feeling you might need me." Tom sneered at the teacher. "What´s the matter Severus, don´t remember me. Of course, you wouldn´t know me like this..."

Snape shot a quelling look at the boy. "You might have grown up into the world´s most feared Dark Lord, but as things stand you´re just a boy."

"And yet still more powerful than your darling Malfoy." Tom grinned. "Not good with pain, is he?"

Snape glared at him. "How would you know?"

Tom laughed. "You mean he hasn´t run crying to you?"

"I didn´t need to." Draco walked out from the adjoining sleeping quarters. Snape turned to look at his student - the boy still looked badly shaken up. "Draco..."

"I hope you do end up like Mother." Draco´s icy tone was directed at the only girl in the room. "She got caught up in something she couldn´t control as well."

"Ah yes, darling Narcissa." Tom smiled cruelly. "I have great fun with her when I´m older. Lucius should have been more careful."

"How DARE you blame this on Father!" Draco snarled. "You´re the one who´ll force him to ignore everything that isn´t your oh-so-mighty self!"

Snape stepped in-between the two boys. Glaring at the dark-haired boy he said "Get out, Riddle. Before I´m forced to call Dumbledore."

"Whatever you ask, dear Severus." Tom turned to the redhead. "Come, Ginny."

Ginny instantly stood up and followed her boyfriend out of the room. Snape turned to Draco. "Are you okay?"

Draco wasn´t listening. Draco´s eyes were firmly fixed on the door. "You´ll pay, Riddle. You´ll pay if it kills me."