A Chance To Mend

Chapter 2: Facing The Consequences

"Draco, wake up!"

The sound of a hushed but familiar voice cuts through my light sleep, causing me to jolt upright. Blaise is kneeling beside me, her blue eyes shining in the darkness and a serious look on her face.

"Merlin, Blaise! What the hell are you doing here?" I whisper harshly, running a hand over my hair.

"Get up," she says flatly, rising to her feet.

"What? Why?"

She sighs. "Draco, just get up and get dressed. Meet me in the common room in five minutes."

Without allowing me time to respond, she leaves the room, shutting the door behind her.

I stay still, stunned, for a moment, before throwing the thick blanket away from my legs and placing my feet on the floor. I walk to the wardrobe and grasp blindly for clothing. I throw on a pair of plain black trousers and a black jumper and my only pair of tennis shoes, a gift from Blaise, before making my way down to the common room.

Blaise is seated on a large, jade green couch, the fire burning softly in front of her, surrounded by the rich decor that is Slytherin house. She looks up as I approach, the dancing flames reflected in her eyes, and I feel my heart lurch as I think of Ginny, of how this could be her. I jerk myself out of these thoughts when I feel her place a hand on my shoulder.

"Draco, are you ready?"

I don’t even bother to ask where we are going. Suddenly it doesn’t really matter. I nod numbly and allow her to lead me to the portrait hole.

*

"What is this?" I ask incredulously as Blaise points her wand at the door and mutters a locking spell.

"This is the Charms classroom, of course," she replies, tucking her black hair behind her ears.

"I know that," I snap back at her. I glance around the empty classroom. This is where Ginny and I had our daily meetings, as Blaise knows. I don’t know why she would bring me here. The air is so thick with memories that it is nearly suffocating. "But why the hell did you bring me back here?"

"Ah. You see this?" she asks, gesturing at an area of the floor arranged with several candles, a rather large book, and a bowl of what appears to be water. I nod.

"Well, I have found a spell that I think might help you."

My heart gives a running leap. "What kind of a spell?"

"A time travel spell," she answers, as if it should be obvious.

Had I been one of those Muggle cartoons, my jaw would have dropped off its hinges.

"A time travel spell," I repeat flatly.

"You heard me."

"Blaise," I grind out, "Time travel is one of the most advanced forms of magic."

"Don’t forget dangerous," she points out.

I give her a cold glance. "Don’t joke with me."

She sighs. "Look, Draco, it’s really very simple. You couldn’t save her the first time. Here is your second chance. Is it worth it? Is she?"

Her words bring a sharp pain to my stomach. Reluctantly, I nod.

"Then let’s get started."

*

"Now what?" I ask.

She glances down at the book. "Now, you use the knife to make a small cut in your wrist."

"What?"

She gives me a look that clearly says ,"Just do it."

Scowling, I draw the blade over the tender flesh on the underside of my arm. Blood immediately gushes to the surface, running in tiny streams down the pale skin. I look at her for more instruction and she gestures to the bowl. I position my arm over it. One drop of blood falls, and the clear liquid instantly changes to a violent shade of red.

"Keeper of time, we implore thee

By the blood of the suffering

Grant us passage through your gates

To right what has been wronged"

As Blaise speaks, I close my eyes, waiting for the spell to take effect. Once her voice fades, I slowly re-open them. My heart sinks as I take in the candles surrounding me, the open spell book. Tears spring to my eyes. It didn’t work. It didn’t work, and now I’ll never have her back. Blaise’s eyes flood with sympathy and disappointment.

"Draco, I’m sor–"

"Save it, Zabini. This whole thing was stupid anyway."

Her eyes flash with hurt, but I can not find it in me to apologize. She gave me hope, and then ripped it away. My one chance, gone. I rise to my feet in one swift motion and stalk to the door, practically spitting out the Alohomora spell. Somehow, I find my way back to my bedroom, stumbling into the bed. I close my eyes and soon fall into a fitful sleep.

The school had an air of emptiness: all the corridors abandoned and the classrooms bare. He was searching frantically for someone. Who, he didn’t know. He threw open every classroom door and searched every dormitory. and still he found no one. He was on the verge of giving up when a scream cut through the still air. It was horrible, full of terror. It didn’t end, but continued to ring out like the wail of a banshee. His feet moved before he could think about it, following the sound. He found himself in a darkened corner just outside of the dungeon. The screaming ceased, the air around him once again silent. Something told him to look down, and he did. He wished he hadn’t.

There, sprawled on the floor, was the girl he had been looking for. Her beautiful red hair was all around her, framing her paper white skin. Her dark eyes were blank, her lips slightly parted. The skin on her neck was bruised. He sensed a presence behind him and whirled around.

There she was again, the only difference that her eyes were focused upon him.

"Why didn’t you help me, Draco? I needed you. Why weren’t you there?"

He opened his mouth to respond, but the words died in his throat as she morphed into Potter.

"You couldn’t save her," Potter said, giving each word an edge like a blade. "You’re not good for anything. You might as well have been the one that strangled her. Yes, I was the one whose hands took her life. But I was acting under a potion. What excuse do you have?"

"I tried," Draco said weakly.

Potter quickly became Lucius Malfoy. "Trying isn’t good enough, stupid boy. You must get it right the first time, or face the consequences."

Lucius became Ginny once again. "It’s your fault, Draco. You didn’t help me, and now I’m gone. And it’s all your fault."

*

Meanwhile, in the empty Charms classroom, someone awakens from a very long sleep. . .