Return to Eden

Return to Eden

Chapter 17: Derelict Depradation

Nobody dared to breathe.

Silence descended on the spectators gathered at the pitch. A thick fog of unease began coiling in their stomachs with tension straining their limbs as they watched, too afraid to blink.

Everyone was too shocked to do anything but stand there gaping. No one wanted to accept the vision before them as truth.

For Draco, it was all too real.

He was clutching Blaise's still form to his chest as blood continued to flow from her head wound. Screams embedded with rawness were pouring from his throat unchecked, ravaging his vocal chords, as tears streamed down his cheeks.

The students and teachers who had left the match before Blaise's fall were rushing back onto the field spurned by the shrieks coming from the Slytherin Seeker.

Professor Dumbledore was the first to reach them with Snape hot on his heels. He looked down at the boy who was still holding his best friend tightly, unconcerned with the blood starting to soak into his Quidditch uniform. Sadness shone through the aged wizard's normally twinkling blue eyes.

"Severus, please retrieve Madame Pomfrey."

Professor Snape nodded tersely through his stunned expression as he turned and made his way quickly back up to the castle.

Dumbledore laid his hand upon the blonde's shoulder and Draco flinched. "You need to let us look at her, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco pulled Blaise closer and vehemently shook his head. "No."

Dumbledore's voice was patient. "We need to know what happened."

The older man's words seemed to break through his grief as he processed them. What had happened? What had made Blaise suddenly dart in front of that bludger? Where had that bludger come from? The game had been over.

Without warning, Draco's eyes shot up from where he'd been staring at the ground and began searching the pitch. In the commotion, the Gryffindor team had grounded their brooms and were also observing in shock. Then, Draco saw it and knew. Ron Weasley, Keeper for the Gryffindors, was standing on the field with his broom in one hand and a Beater's bat in the other.

Draco saw red.

"You."

Everyone who was standing anywhere near Draco unexpectedly flew back until there was no one in-between him and his target. White hot lightning was sparking across his skin in short bursts as he strode towards Ron. The Gryffindor was almost trembling with fear as electricity started popping off the blonde and he took a quick step back. Draco was too far gone in his rage to notice.

"You killed her!"

Darkness was settling across the pitch and in the distance, thunder began rumbling to accompany the uncontrollable show of power. Wind also began blowing across the pitch at an alarming force. Draco stopped when he was less than two feet away from Ron. The pupils of his eyes had widened until the irises were almost completely black. Lifting his arms, the Slytherin let loose a bolt of lightning from each hand and seized the Gryffindor by the throat shaking him. Burns formed on the redhead's neck as he screamed, pain ripping through him. The power had Draco in its grips as he let it go full-force, completely oblivious to everything else around him.

"Stupefy!"

Ron gasped for air as the Slytherin fell to the ground unconscious, the sparks slowly spitting out as they died down. The Gryffindor looked up to see the Head Girl standing over the blonde with her wand drawn. His eyes grew wide in surprise.

"Merlin, Hermione! Thank you so much for -"

Ron rapidly shut his mouth when the brunette turned her wand on him.

"I didn't do it for you, moron. I saw what you did." She let her eyes trail back down to the unconscious boy and they softened in understanding. "I couldn't let him be overtaken by such unrestrained power." Hermione's eyes snapped back up to her former friend and she took a threatening step forward. "It matters very little to me that he tried to kill you. In fact," she leaned towards him and whispered, "I might just finish the job." She poised her wand for an attack.

It was then that Professor Dumbledore awoke from being thrown back into the Quidditch stand. Hermione saw this and lowered her wand with a promise for later in her eyes.

"Goodness! What happened here, Ms. Granger?"

The Head Girl turned to fully face the headmaster, testing explanations in her head. She decided to skirt the issue of Draco's reaction altogether. Taking a deep breath, she made her way to where the raven-haired girl had fallen.

"Blaise was hit with a bludger, Professor. She's dead." The tears she'd been restraining fell free as the devastation she hadn't allowed herself to feel was brought forth. Her face was wet when she looked up at Dumbledore from her position kneeling at Blaise's head. "Ron killed her."

The lines on Dumbledore's face deepened as he looked at the Gryffindor boy holding the bat with weariness seeping into his very soul. It had been a long time since a student had died on the grounds of Hogwarts. "You'll have to come with me, Mr. Weasley." His voice was completely devoid of any emotion.

Ron let his head fall forward as he made his way over to Professor Dumbledore. The burns inflicted from the Slytherin were nothing compared to the inner turmoil he was experiencing from his own conscience. He'd let his anger and jealousy completely overpower any rational thought he might have had. And now he would have to pay the price.

Hermione slowly reached down and took Blaise's hand with her own. She was beginning to lose her warmth and Hermione shuddered. How had it come to this?

Snape came rushing back with Madame Pomfrey trailing behind. She saw the Slytherins lying on the ground and immediately prepared for the worst. "What happened, Albus?"

The headmaster addressed her without looking away from the Gryffindor. "It appears that Ms. Zabini was hit in the head with a bludger. She is no longer with us." He took a deep breath when he heard the nurse gasp in shock. "Severus, would you be so kind as to take Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger back to their quarters in Slytherin? They both need to rest."

Snape moved swiftly and grabbed Hermione up by the elbow to guide her back to the castle. He levitated Draco with his wand and they started their dismal trek back.

"Madame Pomfrey, please take Ms. Zabini up to the hospital wing. There's nothing you can do for her, but you need to try and save her child."

Pomfrey stopped her sniffling to look up at the wizard flabbergasted. "Child?"

"Yes. Ms. Zabini was pregnant, but doing a very good job of hiding it. Please, you must hurry!"

The nurse quickly levitated the girl on a stretcher and left for the castle without another moment to lose.

Glancing around, Albus noticed most of the other students were still watching from the stands in horror. Placing a Sonorus charm on himself, he spoke to the grief-stricken masses. "Please go back to your dormitories for the rest of the day until further notice." The students silently started filing out of the pitch unable to believe what had happened.

Albus turned back to Ron whom he'd magically chained to him. "Come, we have to summon the Ministry."

-----

Draco awoke in his room with the most sickening pit in his stomach he'd ever felt. Remembering everything, his head swam as he ran to the bathroom and vomited in the nearest sink. He took in gasps of air as his vision cleared making the pounding in his head more pronounced. He leaned his forehead against the cool porcelain and tried to will the throbbing away.

"Are you going to be okay?"

He spun around and found the Head Girl standing in the doorway of the boys' bathroom. She was so pale he thought he might could see through her if he squinted hard enough, and her hair looked extremely messy like how it had before she tamed it, like she'd been running her hands through it in worry. He imagined he didn't look any better.

"I don't know."

His mouth felt like a desert when he tried to speak. His tongue was nothing more than a weight in his mouth as he tried to gather enough spit to form words. The lump in his throat threatening to burst through didn't help matters.

"Me either."

She teared up then, wanting to be strong for him, but knowing that her own grief would eventually break through. She hugged herself and tried to take steady breaths without dwindling down into sobs. This was so hard. She had not seen her adopted parents die right in front of her eyes, and although she had grieved for them, this felt stronger, more demanding. She kept herself from reaching out to him, knowing he would only turn away at her inadequate attempts to console him. How could she comfort him over this?

He swallowed forcefully and tried to suppress the images flying across his mind. He was trying to keep a handle on the myriad of emotions churning within him struggling to let loose.

"Where is she?"

"In the hospital wing."

Draco nodded and moved towards the doorway.

"Where are you going?"

"Where do you think?"

"Draco, it's too soon. You need to take some more time to deal with -"

"I've taken enough time. I have to see her. Now, move out of my way."

Hermione cautiously stepped aside against her better judgement and watched as he hurriedly walked away from her down the stairs and into the Slytherin common room. Only hesitating for a moment, she quickly ran after him. She caught up with him at the exit wall.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm going with you."

Draco just sighed as they walked along to the hospital wing. Once they reached that section of the castle, they were overtaken by a group of teachers standing outside the door with their heads bowed.

"I want to see her."

Professor McGonagall tried to head him off. "Mr. Malfoy, I don't think -"

He jerked around, facing her with gray eyes wide with incredulity. "I do."

The older woman moved out of the way to let the two teenagers in the door. As soon as they entered, Madame Pomfrey appeared at their side. Draco barely looked at her, his attention was completely focused on the white curtain drawn across the first bed. He moved to it without thought.

"I want to be alone with her."

"But -"

"Now!"

Hermione wiped her silent tears on her sleeve as she ushered the nurse out of the room. She felt so useless, but she couldn't do anything about his created isolation. He would talk to her when he was ready.

When he heard the door click behind them, he cast a difficult locking spell on the room. He drew back the curtain, and there, on a starch white bed of sheets, lay his best friend in eternal slumber. She looked so peaceful that it broke his heart. The blood had been cleaned off and it was no longer staining her immaculate alabaster skin. Draco took a deep breath as he sat down in the metal chair positioned by her side. He lifted his hand and gently smoothed her raven hair back from her brow.

"Hey, Ace."

A watery smile strained his face as he took another deep breath, sniffling a little. His voice broke as he continued to speak.

"I know I haven't called you that in a long time. Since we were twelve. Do you remember when I started calling you 'Ace'?" He took her hand in his own. It was cold. "It was when were seven. We were racing and you'd just fallen off your broom and skinned your knees. You turned to me and asked me why it was so hard to keep up. I looked at you and said, 'It doesn't matter because I'll always come back for you. You're my ace in the hole.' Then you smiled at me like I was your world."

He couldn't hold it in anymore as he broke down in sobs letting his head fall forward until it rested on the bed next to her.

"I'm sorry, Ace, I'm so so sorry. I didn't come back for you and I promised I would. I promised I would always come back for you. You looked at me and I knew. I knew it was too late." He drew in a gasp of air. "Oh Merlin! Please forgive me! I'm so sorry! So sorry!"

The tears poured forth as he buried his face in the sheets letting the emotions wash over him, too tired to keep them at bay as he broke down completely.

-----

Snape entered Dumbledore's office just as the Ministry officials were escorting the youngest Weasley boy through the Floo Network. He waited patiently as Albus conversed with the last Ministry member in low tones before he also stepped into the fireplace and joined his colleagues in flooing. The Potions Master had just come back from taking the Head Boy and Girl back to Slytherin and making sure they slept for the next couple of hours.

"Yes, Severus?"

Snape parked himself down into one of the high-backed chairs facing the headmaster's desk. Putting on his sternest scowl, he faced the older wizard and began his thought out tirade.

"This has gone too far, Albus. Between the still-unsolved decimated Head Girl's quarters and the death of Ms. Zabini, these children are beginning to tear each other apart within the walls of their school. I think it's high-time to tell me what exactly it is that I know you're keeping from me. I know it has something to do with Ms. Granger's disappearance when she was only an infant. What is it you're not telling me?"

Professor Dumbledore sighed as he took a seat on the opposite side of the desk. "You're right, Severus. I can't keep it from you any longer."

If Snape seemed surprised by this answer, he didn't show it.

"You were part of a cover-up. The reason you can't remember it is because your memories were obliviated."

Snape looked surprised now.

Leaning back in his chair, Dumbledore conjured up two cups of tea as he continued his narration. "You remember how it was during those times. Everyone was quick to accuse and slow to see the truth. Word was passed around the Ministry that three babies of unequaled power had been born within weeks of each other. The prophecy involving Voldemort was what was examined first, but it became clear to the Department of Mysteries that it only involved the Potter baby. The other two were the product of something much older and much deeper.

"Some don't even know the story of the Old Power and when he still walked this plane of existence, but these two little babies were going to be the end of the wizarding world. The problem was no one knew if they were going to be as its saviors or its destruction. Most had no idea, but feared what a child with that much power could mean. After I left Ms. Granger at the orphanage following her father's death and her mother's admittance to St. Mungo's, Barty Crouch was notified that one of the babies was within reach. Orders were given the next week and they set the building on fire hoping to kill the baby inside, but she had already been adopted unbeknownst to anyone. They all believed she would be bigger threat than Voldemort if she continued living.

"Everyone who had any knowledge of the true reason behind the fire was obliviated, including myself. The reason I am able to remember is because I used my Pensieve before meeting with Crouch. So, the Rosier baby was gone and everyone forgot about the danger and the legend. I knew I couldn't let anyone think that I was prying into the story because the Malfoy baby was alive and well, so I did it very secretly over many years. The fairy tale that some remember being told as children is as different from the real story as a fly from a spider.

"The birth of these two children will be the beginning of the end. They will be the most powerful beings to ever walk the earth since the day it was created and their side will not be predetermined. Do you know what that means, Severus? These two children are a threat to everyone. You, me, even Voldemort. They harness the power to destroy everything. It's developing in them as speak. And they don't know, and no one can tell them. It will surely ruin everything."

"Why, Albus? Why will it ruin everything and why keep it from me for so long?"

The headmaster surveyed his old friend over the rim of his half-moon spectacles with dull eyes. "Because I couldn't risk it. Their path is known only to the Old Power and will soon become clear to them. One wrong move and the whole universe might come tumbling down upon us. Before it's supposed to."

-----

Harry had cabin fever.

Staying cooped up in the Gryffindor dorms while so many things were occuring seemed like sacrilege to Harry. So, he did what he would normally do in a situation like this. He grabbed up his broom and his Invisibility Cloak and flew out the window and up into the Astronomy Tower. Landing softly, he unmounted his broom and pulled out his cloak. He was unprepared when he looked up and found the bright blue eyes of Pansy Parkinson peering back at him.

"So that's how you get out of trouble all the time."

Harry growled. "Parkinson."

She ground out the magical cigarette and blew out the remaining purple smoke. "Don't worry, Harry. I'm not going to turn you in."

The Gryffindor was thrown off-balance by her seemingly friendly demeanor. "What are you doing up here, anyway? How did you get out of your dorm?"

Pansy tossed her curly hair back and smirked. "I'm a Slytherin, need I say more?"

He let a half-smile draw across his face.

She tilted her head. "I could ask you the same question."

"I wanted to find out what's going on. Is she really -"

"Dead?" Pansy drew in a shuddering breath. "Yeah. She is."

Harry leaned heavily against the short wall separating him from a fifty foot drop. "Merlin."

Pansy pulled out another cigarette from her pack and lit it with a shaking hand. "Yeah."

Harry ran his hand through his unruly raven locks as he tried to absorb everything. "What about -"

She finished a deep drag before answering. "They carted him off. Draco's locked himself in with her. That's all I know."

Harry nodded.

Pansy took another drag.

He sighed.

Silence stretched between them for a few moments before she finally broke it.

"Makes you think how short and insignificant life is, doesn't it?"

Surprised by her question, the Gryffindor turned towards her and studied the expression adorning her features. He discerned it was somewhere between introspective and worry.

"In some ways, I suppose. I never thought I'd be here, that's for sure."

The Slytherin looked at him curiously through the haze of smoke clouding her vision. "Where is 'here'?"

"One friend now in Slytherin, the other in Ministry custody, having a conversation without death threats with one of the worst Slytherins."

She smirked as she stomped out the bud. "I'll take that as a compliment, considering the circumstances, but I agree with you. I never thought one of my oldest friends would die right in front of me on Hogwarts grounds, of all places."

Harry nodded silently in understanding.

Pansy reached into her pack for another cigarette and came back empty. She'd stood there and smoked them all without even noticing. Looking back towards the Gryffindor, she was struck with sympathy for the young hero who constantly held the world on his shoulders and his heart on his sleeve. Taken by the sudden emotion, she leaned towards him and laid her hand on his forearm.

"It will be better."

She turned and left in swirl of emerald green as he watched her go, deep stirring emotions in his eyes as he whispered.

"I hope so."

-----

The Three Powers were at it again.

"What's wrong now?"

"The same thing that's been wrong, you bint!"

"There's no reason for name-calling, you two. Just sit down and we'll continue to figure out why the two threads that are still unraveling and rebuilding the tapestry are the wrong two threads."

"What else is there to figure out?"

"Yeah, we already know it should be the boy and the girl."

"So, why is it the teacher and that hot-tempered redhead?"

"That's what we have to find out."