Easier To Run

A/N : Ok, uh, let's see. Not much to say really. Second half of a cliffy, so yeah.

Sorry, just a little angry at someone who reviewed "Addicted". Mean, ignorant....uh. Ignore that. Just too bad that it wasn't mean enough to get deleted. Cause I really don't like it there. I mean, that's fine if you didn't like it, but you were far warned. You didn't have to read it nor waste your time reviewing it and since you won't let people email you I have to rant in here. *sorry for the big run on sentence*

Just giving me more of a reason to prove myself, AND write more Oliver/Percy slash. Or Oliver and any male character slash! *evil grin* That which doesn't kill us, makes us stronger. And thus, this chapter!

Enjoy!

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Katie walked down into the entrance hall and down into the dungeons. Only then did she realize that she had no idea which room was Snape's quarters. She cursed loudly as lightning lit up the entrance hall behind her. A fleeting thought of Draco, bloody and beaten stranded in Hogsmeade in the pouring rain, made her run through the dungeons knocking on every door she could find. She heard one open behind her and turned to see a very annoyed Snape standing there, wrapping a robe around him.

"Miss. Bell, what in the world are you doing down here at this hour?" he said, his voice in a more understanding tone then his body language implied.

Katie took a deep breath and told the story in one breath. "Draco Malfoy is in Hogsmeade right now, beaten in the bloody rain. He wrote me this and it got to me just moments ago," she said retrieving the letter and handing it to Snape.

Snape seemed to notice the blood as Katie did, and went paler than usual. "He's in Hogsmeade?" he said scanning the short letter.

"Yes, and instead of breaking a dozen school rules and getting him myself, I came to find you. Besides, he's in your House after all," Katie said hopping from foot to foot, "Can we please get going?"

Snape handed her the letter and disappeared back into his quarters. He returned a moment later with his wand, shoes, and a heavy cloak. "Lucius is going to absolutely murder me," he muttered and walked past Katie and out of the dungeons.

She couldn't help but smile. In all actuality, he could have just said to go and fetch him herself, with his permission. But he was going for her. 'Score one on the good godfather board,' Katie thought, 'And he doesn't even realize it.'

Katie let out a yelp as she stepped into the downpour. But Snape turned and performed a water repelling charm on her. It was hard to see, but Katie stayed close to Snape, because it was dark. Very dark. And Katie was petrified of the dark. At some point she realized that she was repeated stepping on his feet, but he hadn't reprimanded her for it.

Once inside Hogsmeade, Katie noticed the lights on at The Three Broomsticks and took off running. She vaguely heard Snape following her, but as she threw open the wooden door of The Three Broomsticks, nothing could prepare her for the sight in front of her.

Draco. Lying on a table, being tended to by Madam Rosmerta. She looked up startled at the entrance.

"Oh, Katie. Thank Merlin. He said you were coming for him and then he just passed out. Looks like he took quite a beating," she said sadly, pressing a cold cloth to Draco's forehead once more.

Katie walked up to the limp body slowly. Draco's usual pristine silver-blonde hair, was in total disarray and stained with his own blood. His face was marred by a split lip and a new bruise forming around his left eye, which looked almost swollen shut. Almost as if it had been hit more than once. His right arm lay limply across his stomach.

"Yeah, his father did it," Katie said, covering her mouth with her hand to catch the sob that threatened to escape.

Madam Rosmerta tutted. "I knew there was more than a few reasons I hated that man. Beating his own child. And a delicate one at that."

Katie looked behind her and saw Snape, frozen in the doorway. "Professor? We should get him to Madam Pomfrey shouldn't we?"

Snape blinked rapidly and tore his gaze from Draco and looked at Katie. "Yes. Yes, thank you Madam Rosmerta. We should get him up to the castle."

After conjuring a stretcher and moving Draco's body onto it, Snape cast the water repelling charm on all three of them and they headed up to the castle, Draco floating between them. Once inside, they made their way up the many staircases to the Hospital Wing. Snape floated Draco's body over to the nearest bed and lit the lamps surrounding it.

"I'll go and rouse Poppy. You stay here with Mr. Malfoy," Snape said before walking out of the Hospital Wing.

Katie found a chair and pulled it over to the left side of Draco's bed. She reached out and took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze.

"Come on, Draco. Wake up," she said, her voice cracking and a tear rolling down her cheek, "I came as fast as I could. The weather was bad and I had to get Snape. You have to wake up and tell me what happened. You have to tell me so I have a reason to go and kill that son-of-a-bitch that you have to live with as a father. Please, Draco. Please wake up," Katie said, dissolving into tears and laying her head down on the bed beside Draco's arm.

A twitch in Draco's arm caused her to lift her head. She watched as his head turned slightly from side to side. She placed a hand on his forehead to still him, in case something was injured in his neck. His right eye shot open and he tried to get up frantically. Katie grasped his shoulders and pinned him to the hospital bed.

"Draco, its alright. It's me. It's Katie. You're in the Hospital Wing. It's ok," she said shushing him.

He looked at her and smiled slightly. "My Angel of Mercy."

Katie laughed and a few more tears fell onto her cheeks. "Damn right. You're going to get me killed, you know that?" she said smoothing back the hair from his forehead.

Draco closed his eye and took a deep breath before opening it again. He raised his hand and touched his left eye gingerly. Wincing in pain, he took his hand away.

"I look like shit, don't I?" he said, wincing slightly, as he tongue sought out the injury on his lip.

"No. You look a devilishly handsome boy who got in a bar fight," Katie said arching an eyebrow at him.

Draco let out a short laugh, but threw his arm protectively over his stomach again. Katie lifted his arm and lifted his shirt a little. The right side of his ribcage appeared to be a gigantic bruise. Katie winced and pulled his shirt back down.

"Well, no more talking or laughing for you. Don't want to cause anymore injury to your ribs," Katie said, resuming the action of smoothing Draco's hair back.

It made her feel calmer about the situation and it seemed to calm Draco also. The doors to the Hospital wing opened a moment later and Snape entered with Madam Pomfrey.

"Good Heavens," Madam Pomfrey said rushing to Draco's right side.

"You might want to check the back of his head too, Madam Pomfrey. There's some blood. And the right side of his ribcage is a mess too," Katie said helpfully.

"Oh, thank you, Miss. Bell. Why don't you run along back to Gryffindor Tower. You can come see Mr. Malfoy after he's had some rest."

"Madam Pomfrey, if you don't mind, I'd like to stay here for the night. I can sleep there," she said pointing the bed situated behind her, "He, uh, woke up a little disoriented."

Madam Pomfrey's features softened when she looked at Katie again. "Alright. But he needs his rest. Can you watch him for me?"

"Of course, Madam Pomfrey," Katie said, hiding her excitement at getting her way.

Madam Pomfrey walked off to get some potions and creams and motioned for Snape to follow her.

*

"My, my. A friendship between a Gryffindor and a Slytherin. And such an odd pair besides that. The last I remember, was you and Lily Potter," Poppy said kindly, while sorting through her stock.

Severus stood slightly rigid at the mention of Lily. "That may be, but those two are more alike than you know. I've found Draco Malfoy many times with a razor blade," Severus said sighing, "Now I understand why. If this is bad, I don't want to see worse on the boy."

"Indeed. How did this happen?" Poppy said, placing her potions and creams on a tray.

"Lucius."

Poppy scowled at her tray before looking at Severus. "That man should be put away," she said grabbing the tray and walking from the storage room.

"Indeed," Severus said, following Poppy.

*

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Katie woke sometime after she had fallen asleep to the sound of sobbing. She rolled onto her back and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She heard Draco try to unsuccessfully muffle his sobs. He'd probably noticed that she'd waken up. She threw her legs over the side of the bed and walked over to sit on Draco's bed.

"Budge up a bit," she said to a sniffling Draco.

He did, as best he could. Katie climbed into the little space on the edge of the bed and made due, leaning back against the headboard.

"Now what were you crying about so loudly that it woke me up?" Katie asked in a teasing tone.

"You," Draco said simply.

"Why were you crying about me?" Katie asked, eyeing him curiously.

"I don't deserve to have someone like you helping me. You truly are an Angel of Mercy, and I'm not worthy of help."

"Who says? Certainly not me," Katie said placing an arm around Draco's shoulders.

"My father," he said leaning against her, "I can't ever do anything right. I lost the Quidditch Cup. I don't get the best marks and I'm not top of my year. And I don't want to follow in his footsteps and be a Death Eater. I'm worthless."

Katie absently rubbed his shoulder as she spoke. "You're not worthless. You've been a good friend to me. And who cares if you're not the best at Quidditch. Flint was holding your team back anyway. And about your marks, you have to compete with Hermione. And she's a genius. Don't blame yourself," she said giving him a smile, "And I'm very proud that you don't want to be a Death Eater. I plan to fight for the Light if it ever came to it and I don't fancy having to hurt you if you were for the opposing side."

Draco looked up at her, both eyes open now, and gave her a genuine smile. "Thanks, Katie."

Katie leaned down and planted an exaggerated kiss on his forehead. "Welcome. Think you can sleep now?"

Draco shook his head. "Tell me about your summer so far, then I'll sleep."

"Madam Pomfrey's going to kill me," Katie muttered and she heard Draco chuckle, "Hey, I know where you're injured."

Draco sobered and snaked an arm around Katie's waist. "You're not leaving until you tell me."

Katie groaned and looked at Draco. "Fine. But if your hand moves any further north or south, you're in big trouble."

Draco smiled innocently. "How is Wood anyway?"

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*

Severus walked into the Hospital Wing, Minerva, Poppy, and Albus in tow the next morning. He looked at Draco's hospital bed, startled for a moment, angry the next, and endeared the last. Draco was laying against Katie, fast asleep. Katie, who had her arm draped around Draco's shoulders, was also asleep. He turned and looked at Minerva, to see her going through the same thought process. She looked at Severus and smiled.

"I don't think we should wake them. Poppy," she said turning to look at Poppy, "stay here until they wake so you can tend to Mr. Malfoy."

Severus looked at Albus, who was smiling, his blue eyes twinkling.

"Well, well. Wonders never cease, do they, Severus?" he said quietly.

Severus nodded and with a fleeting look back at the pair, left with Minerva and Albus to discuss the matter of Draco further.

*

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