Draco had been using his daily routine of hiding in one place and moving to the next ever since he had met that Chloe girl. He never spent time thinking of her, because to him that would be time wasted. He did however dream about her. He disliked that idea very much, but he silently admitted that it was better then the nightmares.
The dreams started one night when Draco was setting up camp and decided to sleep under the stars instead of in his tent. So he set up his protective barrier and fell asleep watching the graceful stares dance throughout the sky. One of the dreams he remembered quite vividly was with Chloe and Dumbledore an office that Draco guessed was Dumbledore’s. Chloe was bruised, battered and bleeding from her side.
“So do you agree to this Miss Gryndor?”
“I do.”
“Very well then go fix yourself up you’re a mess.” Dumbledore sighed.
“You knew he would do this.” She stated without any emotion on her face. She was staring at her lap and looked tired and dead inside. She looked like a face Draco had seen millions of times, a face that stared back at him every time he looked in the mirror.
“I had a feeling.”
At that she looked at Dumbledore and left the room.
Another dream he recalled was one where he was looking at the stars and a it seemed the stars were silently whispering, “Your nightmares are over.”
They’re just dreams. Draco would remind himself.
These different dreams went on every night until Draco noticed a storm heading in his direction and new that he wouldn’t be able to sleep outside tonight. He was both happy and disappointed to not have the company of the stars with him.
The rain began to pour around 4:30 P.M. and Draco was stuck with himself. He at first busied himself with trivial things like flipping through old newspapers and reading about how great everything turned out because of Harry Bloody Potter. Draco would love to punch that git in his self ritcheous face. He would also love to meet someone that wasn’t in love with that half-breed.
He smirked to himself that would be the girl for me.
Sure Draco had had some relationships with slytherin girls; he was the prince of Slytherin after all. But he knew they were only after his name and title and that made them less attractive to him. He didn’t like needy girls and who would want him now. He was slowly accumulating more dirt on himself every day and from his own experience he knew most girls don’t like dirt.
He then heard the rain let up a tad bit and went out of his tent to see some of the clouds move so he could spot some stars.
Draco smiled to himself. A real smile, one that no one had really seen him make. And was unaware of the sound of crunching leaves. He looked down to meet the eyes of Chloe Gryndor whose red hair, blue long sleeve shirt and tan trousers were drenched. Draco looked at her in surprise as his heart sped up and adrenaline ran throughout his body. She can’t see me Draco encouraged himself.
But she looked right at him and asked, “Well aren’t you going to let a soaked girl in?”
Draco was dumbfounded and when ever he was faced with something unknown he became defensive.
“Why should I? You’ll just get my tent wet.”
Chloe looked tired and brought Draco back to the dreams he had had about her.
“Please…” she whispered staring out through the forest looking defeated.
Draco didn’t realize he was letting her in until she had a towel and was sitting comfortably on a couch.
“Wow these things have advanced.” She said more to herself then Draco, as she looked around at the appliances and gizmos in his tent.
Draco took a seat across from the couch and started to analyze Chloe like she was an alien.
“What?”
“How did you see through my barrier?”
A surprised look came over her face and she let it stay there as she contemplated her answer.
“Didn’t you learn how to see through them at Hogwarts?”
“Are you daft?”
“I’ll take that as a no then.” Chloe replied as she tried to warm herself up with the towel.
A loud roar of thunder cracked outside and they both looked at each other.
“Guess I’m staying here tonight”
“Like bloody hell you ar-” Draco stopped himself and gave Chloe the most devilish grin he could muster with his unkept appearance and gave Chloe’s arms goose bumps. “Fine but then you’ll promise to leave me alone, and my so called favor will be paid.”
“Deal, I will leave as soon as the sun is in view.” Chloe replied and stuck out her hand.
“I’m not going to touch you.” Draco commented as he stood up and walked towards the kitchen to collect some water for himself.
“Well then goodnight.” Draco stated.
“Wait its probably not even seven what kind of child goes to sleep that early.” Chloe grinned. Draco stopped and glared at the uninvited guest on his couch. He didn’t know why he had let her stay. It was dangerous, he had no idea who she was, or why she was living in the woods. His curiosity out won his dislike and he sat back down.
“Then what do you purpose we do? Watch the floorboards all night.”
“Yes that is exactly what I purpose.” She replied sarcastically.
“That sounds ridiculously stupid.” Draco was already getting up from his seat.
“Wait, seriously you can’t even sit for a moment can you. How about a pleasant chat? People do that, you know talk about the weather and what not.”
“Well I am not one of those people nor am I pleasant, and the weather is clearly horrid out. Stop being such a ridiculously lousy guest.” Draco challenged again sitting back down.
Chloe chuckled to herself. “I wouldn’t say that you're not pleasant. You just believe yourself to be above everyone and everything else. Which doesn’t make you the most social of butterflies now does it. The only thing keeping you in that seat is my mysterious background. Well go ahead ask away, just beware the consequences.” She stated taking on a more serious tone. Not seeming like the dumb girl that she was a few moments ago.
Draco stared at the girl in front of him. His opinon of her kept changing. It ranged from hate, dislike, curious, interest, to dislike once more. She was interesting in a way, but he chalked that up to her being the only other talking being within miles. He wouldn’t give her a glance anywhere else.
“Are you following me?” He asked.
Chloe could now tell what she had seen on Draco’s face that she couldn’t place. He had been wary of her. Not trusting if she was someone to capture him. She had figured out that he was running from something, probably the ministry.
”No, I could care less about you to be honest. Who owns the wand shop in Diagon Alley?”
“What? Who said you could ask questions?” Draco replied.
“I did. Just answer it.”
“Ollivander did but I believe he has retired and won of his apprentices is now the main owners.” Draco stated seeming bored by the question, “Why are you traveling through these woods?”
“Sightseeing.” Chloe lied, she could see that Draco didn’t believe her either, “What is today’s date?”
“August 11th, 2000 and you are not fooling anyone with your little “sightseeing” ruse.”
“Well I am not asking you why you are living in a tent and from the looks of it you’ve been doing this for a while, so lets just both accept that we like to run from things and move on. So who killed Voldemort?”
“Harry Potter.” Draco spat the words. “This is idiotic. I’m going to bed.”
“Wait, one more. Who killed Albus Dumbledore?”
At this Draco thought the girl was trying to hurt him, but he still said the words “Severus Snape.” Then he vanished to his bed leaving Chloe with new things to think about.
That night Draco dreamed about a peaceful place where he didn’t have to run anymore and after a long day would go to a beautiful house with a girl inside that had a beautiful smile. She would hug him and ask how his day was and he would look down at his left arm and see nothing. “It was a great day.”
Chloe dreamt of things she would never let herself forget.
“Are you ready?” Dumbledore asked her.
“Yes, and you promise this potion won’t kill me, and your not leaving me in this random pond to die?”
“It won’t kill you Miss Gryndor, but put you in a magical sleep where you won’t age or be conscious of the things around you. It will be one long dream, or nightmare I suppose. You’ll wake after my death I’m afraid.”
“Well that cant be to long then. It was nice knowing you Professor.” She then raised the goblet of silver liquid and wished it would take her memories with the time, but she knew that was only a wish and gulped down the strong tasting potion hoping for nothing. She didn’t want to dream anymore.
She then awoke to a scream filled air and Dumbledore yelling at her.
This isn’t right. She thought to herself as she realized she was the one screaming.
There was pain and coldness everywhere and she started to feel her eyes droop as she saw Dumbledore yell,
”Second chance……… 312569… Save yourself by saving……….. Draco” Then Chloe fell back into her blissful sleep.
Chloe awoke abruptly remembering what she had to do. She didn’t know who or what a “Draco” was but she did know it needed her help.
When morning came around Draco was unusually happy until he saw Chloe standing by the sink drinking tea.
“You said you would be gone by morning, which means now.”
It was Chloe’s turn to put on her best devilish smile. “No I said I would leave once the sun is in view and it’s still raining outside.”
Draco almost lunged at her, but a small very small part of him was impressed at her cunningness.
“You almost shook on it.” She replied.
“I did.” Draco said in his small defeat. Realizing that until the rain stopped his routine was screwed.
And the rain didn’t stop for a week. The first day was filled with silence with the two of them off in their own worlds. Chloe herself tried to keep away from the wrath of her new companion. The second day seemed to be like the first when a brilliant idea struck Chloe and she couldn’t ignore it.
“Hey Malfoy.”
“What.”
“How about I teach you how to see through protective charms.” Draco being very intrigued by the idea pretended to think about the idea for a while before giving a nonchalant “fine”.
Chloe grinned and took out her thin fragile looking wand and was about to start casting a protective charm when Draco exclaimed, “In Merlin’s name what is wrong with your wand it looks like a twig.
Chloe again gave Draco a confused look and said, “That’s because it is. I guess making a temporary wand is also on our to-do list.” and that’s how the week went. Draco learned how to see through protective charms and that if you use and wood putting your magic in it like a patronus you can temporarily use it as a wand. Draco didn’t realize it but he had grown fond of Chloe’s company and her smug matter of fact way of teaching. Even if he had shot a few jinxs at her when she commented on his bad form when conjuring patronus energy. Chloe didn’t mind. She in some strange way understood Draco.
It was late one night when Chloe asked. “Malfoy what was the war like?”
“I don’t want to talk about it. You should know anyway you were somewhere in the world.”
Chloe grimaced. “I mean what was it like at the front lines of it all, seeing it all with your own eyes.”
“It was the most disgusting thing I have ever witnessed. It’s something no one should have to see. Death isn’t something everyone is ready to see happen to their loved ones and that’s what I saw were other people losing their friends and family.”
“What about your loved ones?”
“I don’t have any.” He said nonchalantly like it was another everyday fact.
At that Chloe looked down at her hands and said, “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t of had to seen or been any part of that. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like.”
“No you couldn’t have. Can we not talk about this?” Draco considered being a death eater one of the only things he was beginning to regret. Draco knew that it was his mother who had really determined the war and she did it to save him, a week ago he wouldn’t have considered this safe, but now he felt somewhat content with Chloe sitting by him.
“The rain will be gone by morning I think.” Chloe said and Draco remembered the real reason Chloe was here. She was just loitering because of the bad weather otherwise this girl didn’t care about him. In fact he didn’t know really anything about her. He shouldn’t have felt so calm around her and out of his distress he gave a slight nod and said. “Remember our deal.”
Chloe could tell Draco wasn’t good with goodbyes and said “Of course.” She rather liked this strange Malfoy boy who lived in the forest and thought if she didn’t have a goal to accomplish she would have loved to stay here with him. She smiled at the thought and looked at the white haired boy with grey eyes and shed an invisible tear for him and gave an invisible apology because she knew that if she had done things right he might have had a happier life.
The next day came and Chloe left early when Draco was asleep. She wasn’t that great at goodbyes either. She whispered a goodbye as she left the barrier and started to march on.
Draco woke up minutes later to find Chloe gone and he was overcome with an emotion he had never really felt before. “Bloody Hell.” he said quietly to himself as the loneliness took hold. He hadn’t realized how much brighter she had made his boring tent life until she was gone and the tent never looked grayer. With a quiet sigh Draco started to pack.
Chloe was only a mile or two away from where she had left Draco when she heard two voices.
“Can’t believe were out her looking for some pureblood.”
“It’s too muddy out here to go looking for that arse Draco Malfoy anyway.”
Chloe stopped in her tracks and smiled delightedly. She had found Draco who was a who and not a what. Chloe laughed and started to walk back to the tent and the boy she was beginning to like more and more.
“Hey I think I’ve found a trail or something.”
At that Chloe started to run, both hoping Draco was long gone and safe and hoping he was there for her to find. She got to the area where he had made camp to see it was clear and gone. She had missed her second chance.
“Damn it all!” She yelled as a blonde boy walked from behind the tree he was about to apparate behind. He tried not to show the great joy he was feeling and she tried not to lunge at him with wide arms. She heard a yell.
Danger. She thought as she turned and yelled “STUPEFY.” She knocked one of the men out but there was still another and he managed to break her temporary wand before Draco disarmed him.
Not fully aware of his own actions Draco grabbed Chloe by the waist and apparated far away.
They both fell into a pile of leaves as Chloe laughed and exclaimed, “I guess I owe you the favor now.”
A/N: Hey Happy Holidays!
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I hope to have the next chapter up soon.
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