The Mistresses of Draco's Heart

Chapter Two

It Shouldn't Happen To A Hero

Alarmed waves crashed on the bank. Draco started to think feverishly. He couldn't hear any splashes to indicate that Harry was swimming. Did that monster know how to swim? Suddenly he heard splashes down on the lake, so he leaned over the cliff again and saw someone struggling in the water. Judging by the moves Harry made, Draco realized that he was not able to swim. He untied his cloak, took off his boots, tore off his shirt and with a heavy sigh jumped in the lake.

***

"Ginny...Virginia...Virginia!" Lucius tried to wake up Ginny. She opened her eyes slowly, then recoiled. She wasn't used to Lucius standing by her bed and waking her up.

"If you're going to sleep so long, I'll have to eat lunch alone with my wife. She wants to meet her soon-to-be daughter-in-law." Ginny's eyes widened.

"Mr. Malfoy, don't you understand? I don't want to marry Draco..."

"You have to," he replied in a quiet voice.

"... I don't love him ..."

"I can help that."

"... He's too old for me ..."

"Only by one year."

"... Lucius ..."

"Who let you call me by my first name?"

Ginny blushed and then tried again.

"Mr. Malfoy ...

She had not had the chance to get acquainted to Lucius Malfoy's true personality. Her mother had taught her that he was a Death Eater, a dirty scoundrel, a rich pimp, and a faggot that used his own son for ... Oh God, that was disgusting! But what she saw now was a man that was sure of himself, who was polite to her not because someone had told him to but because it was in his own interests. He could be cruel and he was, but not to her. He was a gentleman and somehow she was sure that Draco was a full copy of Lucius. She didn't know how she had arrived at that conclusion. Draco was a naughty, irritating, selfish boy, who didn't show any signs of politeness. But, on the other hand, she had never looked in his silver eyes to understand why Draco did what he did.

"... what have you done to Ron?"

"He is in the next room."

Why was he answering all of her questions? Did he really want her to know all about his plans, or was it some kind of a trick?

"I want to see him."

"You can't." Then he added as an afterthought: "Orders given by my Lord can't be broken."

She sat up and asked, "What will you do if I refuse to marry ... Draco?"

"I can't tell you exactly what I will do - but believe me, I will think of something."

***

Draco drew Harry out of the lake. Shivering from the cold water, looking pale, and breathing heavily, Draco slumped next to Harry and touched his neck where the carotid was. He could feel it pulsing very weakly. Draco had to make sure that Potter would get warm quickly, so he ran for his wand, grabbed it, and hurried back to Harry, where he used "Incendio!" to light a fire. He sent red sparks in the air and continued to send them each minute. He wrapped Harry in his own cloak and pulled him closer to the fire. Soon Draco could hear someone running in their direction. He turned his head just at the moment when Lupin appeared in the bushes.

***

Ginny sighed. "What do I have to wear for lunch?"

"Follow me." Lucius stood up and went through the door. Ginny hesitated for a moment, then got out of the bed and followed him. After they had walked a short distance, a bright idea flashed in Ginny's mind. She slowed her steps and when ten metres were between her and Lucius, she turned and started to run away.

She had made around one corner and run a few steps further when she hit the ground hard on her back. Lucius had pinner her to the floor, his gaze fixed on her. The gaze had become dark now, and Ginny understood that she had made a mistake. Lucius examined her eyes and through clenched teeth uttered, "So I can't trust you, can I?"

***

Lupin looked surprised to see Draco and Harry. He ran to Harry, pulled out his wand, and murmured a spell. A fluffy sweater and wool socks appeared on Draco. Lupin leaned over Harry and in a trembling voice asked, "What happened here, Draco?"

No answer came.

"Malfoy!" He turned around to see a very miserable-looking Draco sitting on a rock. "Draco, is something wrong?"

"Did it really have to be pink?" He tugged at his sweater. Lupin smiled.

"I learned this spell from my mother. Pink was her favourite colour."

"Then at least make sure Potter doesn't wake up while I'm in this."

"Sure, but you'll have to help me get him to my house." And with "Mobilicorpus!" he made Harry float in the air.

***

Lucius pulled Ginny up by her shoulders and hit her hard against the wall. He propped his fists against her chest so she could hardly breathe. He was taller than she so he leaned a little closer. She could feel his anger, it was almost shining around him. This was not the polite man she had met earlier; this was something more of an animal.

"You didn't like my politeness, lady, did you?" He kept leaning closer. Now he was in level with her face.

"I could have given you everything. Beautiful dresses, excellent dishes. I would have treated you as my own daughter. But even then I would have demanded your obedience. I am the Master of the Manor, so I dictate the rules here. I thought that with kindness I could make your miserable life easier, but obviously that was a mistake."

***

When Draco and Lupin got Harry in the house, Draco was asked to stay in the kitchen. Lupin went to see what he could do for Harry and Draco tried to get warm. When Lupin returned he started to brew a Warming Potion and then sat beside Draco.

"You shall have to drink a Healing Potion, Draco, or..."

"Or what? I'll drop dead in the middle of nowhere? I won't drink it, I'm healthy enough."

" If you wish. Malfoy, could you please explain me what happened to Harry tonight?"

"Why should you be interested in it?"

"Draco," Remus swayed his head, "Draco, Harry's father was my friend..."

"Not even bearing in mind what he was?"

"Not even bearing it. I promised to look after Harry if something happened to James and Lily. So could you please answer my questions? It is important, because there are Death Eaters going after you..."

"I know."

"But...how do you know? Your father..."

"My father didn't tell me, Lupin. I am alert enough that I figured it out myself."

"Okay, so if you know it, then maybe you understand why it is so important for me to know what happened tonight."

"Very well. Potter is a lunatic and tonight he went for a walk and fell off the cliff that you found."

"But...why was he walking around? The full moon is tomorrow! It's dangerous to be out at night."

"I don't know. By the way, have you got any kind of transportation here? Brooms, carpets?"

"You can't use magic here, in the Muggle world."

"Yeah, I know, but there aren't any other kinds of transporta... Wait!... Do you know someone who has got two horses?"

"Actually, my neighbour keeps two."

"Great! We'll take them."

"But what about getting permission?"

"What about it?"

"Oh...nothing."

"Do you have a bathroom or something in here?"

"Yes, I have a bathroom."

"Greater than great! I'll take a bath."

"If you wish..."

"Certainly! By the way, Lupin, you owe me something..."

"I owe for what?"

"For saving that pinball's skin!"

"What do you want?"

"Well, you know...my shirt is kind of dirty..."

***

Harry had had a dream where he felt like flying. He could remember seeing and hearing Lupin... and Malfoy in a fluffy pink sweater. It must have been a dream, he thought. Malfoy would never wear a pink sweater. He opened his eyes, rubbed them and saw Lupin and Malfoy talking in front of him. Then Malfoy left the house and went out in the dark. Harry tried to get up in a sitting position, but it was very hard. He was cold and wanted to get closer to the fire that was burning in a small fireplace. Lupin came in and sat beside Harry.

"How are you feeling, Harry?"

"I'm cold. Lu ... professor-"

"It's all right, Harry, I'm not your professor anymore."

Harry smiled.

"Remus, what happened?"

"Nothing much. According to Draco, you're a lunatic, you fell in a lake, and he saved your skin."

"And that's what you call nothing much? I got saved by a Malfoy and...arrghh...I wish I was dead..."

"A few more seconds under the water and your wish would have become true. Luckily, Malfoy didn't think that being dead is something interesting."

"Just don't tell me he doesn't want to see me dead."

"I can't tell you that. You'll have to ask him yourself. Now, I made you this potion that will cure you and you two will be ready to go further. Drink it."

"What? You're not coming with us? Malfoy will kill me!"

"Has he ever tried?"

"Yes!...Well...actually...no, but I'm sure he will."

"Malfoy risked his life to save such an ungrateful person as you. I wonder why?"

"Yeah, I wonder too."

"Get dressed, Harry."

"Lupin, why can't you come with us?"

"I have a problem, Harry, and to solve it I need time."

'"What problem? Maybe I can help you."

"You can't help me."

"Why?"

"Because I had an accident, when I was somewhere five..."

"What?"

"Harry ... a wolf bit me. Hint?"

Harry blushed a little.

"Sorry."

***

Draco came out from the darkness and Harry saw two horses walking beside him. One was a huge Friesian stallion, the other was a small horse with bushy mane and tail. Harry gasped.

"Malfoy, I've never ridden a horse."

"Then it's time to learn, Potter."

"But I will never be able to mount that huge black horse..."

"Of course you won't be able to. That's why your horse is the little one."

"...Really?...I want to ride a beautiful horse not that piece of...of junk."

"You're not the one giving orders here, are you?"

"No."

"So shut up and start mounting it."

Harry turned to Lupin. "And still you want to tell me that he was the one who saved me?"

***

Hermione was sleeping and hugged by a nice looking boy. He was broad-shouldered and strong, the type of boy that Hermione liked. And she was the type of girl that George liked the best. She was clever, brave and loved Quidditch players.

Hermione woke up and gently slid out of George's hug. She hadn't slept well that night. She had woken up several times with cold sweat covering her back. Now it was dawn, so Hermione took her clothes and left the room silently. She got dressed in the bathroom and went down to the kitchen for tea. Last night she had an idea to go out and start looking for Harry herself. She drank her tea and went back to George's room. She kissed him gently on his forehead and took his new broom - Skysweeper 343. She didn't enjoy flying but this was the only way she could travel. She went out of the house and sat on the broom. She mumbled a Tracking spell and set off in the cold morning.

***

It looked like Draco had taken a bath while Harry was sleeping. His hands were not covered with mud anymore, and his fingernails were manicured. He had made Lupin wash his shirt so it was like new. He wore another cloak - this was made of black atlas and had a hood. Draco had covered his head with it so now he looked like an executioner. He mounted his horse and put on leather gloves. Harry saw that to Draco's belt were attached two holsters and on his back under the cloak was tied a scabbard with a fine sword in it. Harry said goodbye to Lupin, climbed into the saddle of the horse and tried to make it go.

"Go!...I said go!...Malfoy, do I have to press something to get him going?"

"Press your heels in his sides."

"Like this?" He hit the horse hard with his heels.

"Not that hard!" Draco exclaimed as the horse shot in a quick gallop through the trees. "Why did I save him?" he sighed and rushed after him.

***

Draco caught up with Harry and stopped his horse by pulling its bridle.

"Now, Potter, a short lesson for you. You make the horse start going or go faster by hitting him gently with your heels. I repeat - gently. You stop a horse by pulling its bridle. Yes, that rope in your hands is a bridle. You make it go right - I hope you know which way is right! - by pulling the right side of the bridle and left by pulling the bridle left. Understood?"

"Yes."

"You don't look like you understand."

Harry ignored the last observation and asked:

"Why do you have guns with you?"

"To shoot you next time you're going to jump off a cliff."

"Why can't you answer my questions seriously?"

"Because you are the one who asks."

They were riding in a slow gallop. Draco looked like he was born in the saddle, unlike Harry who was holding tight in his horse's mane.

"There are some Death Eaters following us." Draco started unexpectedly.

"And you're going to kill them?"

"Why not?"

"Well...they're Death Eaters...and...wouldn't your father be mad at you if..."

"Leave my father out of this, Potter."

"Why? He is a Death Eater, isn't he?"

"Only those like you can't understand why talking about someone else's father could be impolite. Only those whose father has died or has left his son," he remarked, "can't understand the rules of protecting their families. He is my father, Potter, and if you say something bad about him, I'll smash your headinto tiny pieces. Noone will be able to put that puzzle together, I guarantee that. My father is a Death Eater and I'm proud of his precision in this question. He is not running from one army to another, he doesn't choose the variant that could be better for him or his family."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Dumbledore told you that your father had been killed by Lord Voldemort, didn't he?"

Harry nodded. "But he told me that it hadn't been just Voldemort." He added in a silent voice. "He told me that your father had been there."

"Yes, he was right. But didn't that old stub tell you why your father was killed?"

"He was too strong an enemy of Voldemort."

"Your father betrayed his old friends once. He was forgiven when he returned with very valuable information. The next time he betrayed them, he was to be killed."

"You want to say that..."

"Yes, Potter. Your father was a Death Eater."

***

After that a deep silence followed. Harry had always thought that his father was a honourable man who hated evil. He had never imagined that James could have hurt people. He turned to face Draco.

"Why are you telling me all this, Malfoy?"

"I'm telling you this because...run!"

"What?"

"I said lash that poor horse to death, just get out of here!"

Harry turned and saw a group of Death Eaters approaching them on strong, black horses. "They're not going to use magic, you know."

"A Muggle bullet hurts more than getting on a broom that has a Hurling Hex on it." Draco hissed back. As Harry was about to hit his horse, Malfoy called, "Wait! Take this!" and threw his cloak at Harry. "It turns to an Invisibility cloak if you turn it inside out. I warn you, Potter, do not lose it...now go!" Draco turned his horse, pulled out both pistols and started to shoot. One by one the Death Eaters fell out of the saddle or slowed down. Draco turned his horse and started to race away from them. He had caught up with Harry now. They both continued to flee. There were two more shots and Harry saw Draco flinch. Something dark coloured Draco's right sleeve and the back of his shirt, but Harry didn't see that.

***

Ginny put her fork aside. She couldn't swallow anything she ate. Lucius' gaze slid over her every time she tried to concentrate on food. She wore a beautiful red dress. She had never had something like that. This dress was made specially for her; she could tell, because all dresses she had had were second-hand. The material was as cold as ice every time she slid her fingers over it. It was comfortable and it looked really good on her. It looked like Lucius had good taste in style and colour.

"Not hungry, my dear?" Narcissa asked politely.

Ginny shook her head. She didn't feel much like eating now. Lucius stood up, made an interesting move with his wand and slow music started to play from nowhere. He came to Ginny and asked her for a dance. Ginny didn't dare not to take his hand and started waltzing with him in the Great Hall of the Manor.

***

They kept riding as fast as they had. Harry's horse started to slow down unlike Draco's whose horse wanted to go further and with higher speed. Draco's face was white, but Harry couldn't tell if that was from the fast riding or Draco was angry about something. Finally, when they stopped their horses, Harry dismounted his wet and de-fluffed horse.

"Aaahh!!! I feel like my legs have become crooked!" He looked down but saw that there were no changes in them.

"How come...Malfoy, what are you doing?"

Draco had leaned over horse's neck and started to slide out of the saddle. He was still holding the bridle, but what made Harry nervous was a red stain that coloured the horse's neck and saddle. The next moment Draco fell out of the saddle and tumbled onto the hard ground.