The Vampire Malfoy

Chapter Eleven

Silver Thorn

Starry starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls,
Frameless heads on nameless walls,
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget.
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes,
The silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow.

Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me,
And how you suffered for your sanity,
And how you tried to set them free.
They would not listen,
They're not listening still.
Perhaps they never will. -Vincent, Don McClean

***

Hogwarts was peaceful. Students walked the corridors, talking quietly. It was the calm before the storm.

They should have known.

A solitary scream pierced the air.

Then the killing began.

***

Harry broke away from Hermione's embrace to listen to Dumbledore's magnified voice that was being projected throughout Hogwarts.

"Do not panic, I repeat, do not panic! We are under attack by the Dark Lord. Prefects will lead students to safety. This is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill."

Hermione clutched at Harry, as he pulled himself out of the infirmary bed, pulling his robes and shoes on.

He turned to her. "Find Ron and get out. You know where to go. We've discussed this. You can't let him get you to use as a hostage against me. And I need to know you're both to be safe."

Hermione nodded. "Where are you going?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

Harry swiftly kissed her goodbye. "To fight."

***

The aftermath was horrendous.

Harry watched blankly as Auror teams apparated outside the school gates, running in to arrest Death Eaters, and to administer first aid to the wounded.

Harry looked down at his bloodied arms and chest, where they showed through his tattered robes. He knew that his face was ashen beneath the battle grime and dust that lay like a thick coating over his skin. He glanced at his broken wand and smiled. Before Dumbledore had been taken to the infirmary, he had congratulated Harry.

Voldemort was dead.

Killed by the boy who had been his down fall over fifteen years ago. The Wizarding world was free.

But the price had been great. Gryffindor Tower had been destroyed, becoming yet another nail in the coffin of guilt Harry carried with him. It was his fault. Because of him, friends had died. His Hogwarts family.

The morning sun had risen, disposing of any of the remaining vampires that Voldemort had summoned. Many had fled when their Master had perished, but a few had remained, fighting without a cause.

"Harry!"

He turned. Hermione and Ron were a blur as they ran towards him. They came together in a group hug, tears of relief and joy on their cheeks.

Ron tightened his grip on his best friend. "Look Harry, I'm sorry--"

"It's okay," Harry said, cutting him off. "I was so worried about you both. Are you alright?" he asked anxiously.

Ron swallowed thickly. "Ginny's been injured. It's not serious. But we still don't know who survived and who..." he trailed off, looking uncomfortable.

Hermione gripped both of their hands tightly in her own. "Don't think about it. We're alive. We're alright. It's going to be okay."

Harry looked up at Hogwarts. He stood with his best friends, triumphant after the final battle. But there was something missing.

"Have you seen Draco?" he asked, turning to his friends.

Hermione shook her head, while Ron pointed suggestively at a random dust pile left by one of Voldemort's Vampires.

Harry glared at him and Ron shrugged, raising his hands defensively.

"I was only joking! Honest!"

Hermione elbowed Ron in the ribs. "He's probably still in the dungeons. It's not like he can come out in this weather," she said, indicating the bright sun.

Harry glanced wistfully towards the castle.

Ron gave him a small shove. "Go. Make sure he's alright. We'll go and see Ginny."

Harry smiled, then quickly hugged his friend, looking embarrassed.

"Thanks, Ron," he said. "Thanks for understanding."

***

Draco was in mortal peril.

He was in very near danger of being bored to death.

At first he had sat with Lupin, listening helplessly as the battle raged on above their heads. Draco had felt frustrated.

The call had become almost unbearable.

And then, it had suddenly stopped.

"It's over," Professor Lupin had whispered in amazement.

Draco had headed for the door, but Lupin had stopped him. The sun had risen and without knowing the damage Hogwarts had taken, he couldn't risk exposure to the deadly rays of the sun.

Lupin had gone to find out what he could, and Draco had been left alone to curse silently.

Then boredom had set in. He had begun to count the hex marks on the ceiling.

83, 84, 85--

"Hello, Draco."

Draco sat up in surprise.

"Father!"

Lucius Malfoy sneered at his only son.

"Look at you!" he spat. "You're a disgrace."

He moved swiftly forwards, eyes flashing.

"He's gone. The Dark Lord is dead. We have lost."

Draco shrugged. "Pity."

"This is your fault!" Lucius raged. "Why did you abandon us? If you had fought by his side, he would have ruled, with us at his right hand."

Draco snorted. "Ooh, sounds like fun," he drawled sarcastically. "Gee, I wish I could be Voldemort's lapdog. It sounds like such a rewarding job and I'm sure it'd look great on my CV." He sneered at his father, rising to his feet so their eyes were level.

"You have brought nothing but shame to our family. You betrayed me, betrayed all that you knew. And for what?" Lucius gazed at his son, eyes full of rage. "You shunned the gift he gave you. You were chosen. You were to lead the Vampires. And you took that gift and threw it in his face."

Draco shuddered. "You did this to me? You and your stupid Lord made me what I am? You chose this life for me, Father."

"Don't call me that," Lucius snapped. "You're no son of mine."

Draco replied softly. "I haven't been your son since I died."

He watched as Lucius's lips turned up in a cruel grin.

"Then it's time for you to die again."

***

Harry turned the corner just in time to see Lucius take a sharpened stake from his pocket. He began to advance on Draco, who looked horrified. Lucius drew his arm back, eyes glittering with malice.

"No!" Harry cried, sprinting forward and pushing Draco out of the way.

Green eyes flew open in shock, and his hands flew to his chest, clutching at the wooden stake that was now embedded above his heart. He opened his mouth to cry out, but there was no sound, only blood which trickled slowly from the corners of his lips.

He could feel the thick wetness of blood seeping through his shirt. There was a sudden rushing noise in his ears, and he fell backwards, landing in Draco's arms.

Darkness came rushing towards him, and as he closed his eyes, the last thing he saw was the heart-breaking expression on his friend's face.