Always / Draco Malfoy

Chapter 19

Narrator's POV:

To the dismay of all the students at Durmstrang and Viktor Krum himself as a result of his actions that being punching Ron at the Yule Ball he was disqualified from the tri-wizard tournament. Luckily, the Minister of Magic was kind enough to allow Durmstrang to pick out a replacement leading to Milan Knox being picked as a replacement which the school welcome in their stride. After all, Milan was tall standing at 6'1 and was well built being a beater in the Bulgarian quidditch team not to mention that he was the second smartest in his year.

It was the day before the second trial, Christmas and New Years passed by like a brisk breeze. It was manic at Hogwarts the atmosphere felt strange, some students were excited, some were anxious, some students were fighting over who the Hogwarts champion should be, but overall it felt slightly hostile over the trial week.

The last lesson of the day for most of Aurora's year group was Defence Against The Dark Arts, Aurora, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Blaise, and Theo were all in the same class with Professor Moody. Every student all agreed that he was a bit crazy his name certainly fits his personality to a T and most were absolutely terrified of him. Aurora sat next to Theo both discussing the work they always seemed to get along in fact Aurora would get along with anyone in Slytherin just not Pansy. Theo was leaned over close to Aurora using his quill to point out some features of a spell she had missed in her notes to everyone else it was clear the boy might have taken a little fancy to her but who didn't.

A knock at the door drew the whole class's attention to Professor McGonagall who stood patiently waiting for Professor Moody to finish talking once he did she asked for Aurora to go with her to the office. The girl was very confused but gathered her things nonetheless and followed the teacher to her office where she began apologizing profusely before Aurora's vision went black, she was knocked unconscious by a spell for the next trial. Ron later went missing and then Hermione who since the quidditch world cup had become exceptionally close friends with Cedric Diggory. To everyone around the missing students, things weren't adding up and many people were getting very concerned.

Draco spent the entire evening and the following morning looking for Aurora even going as far as to talk to Harry which took all his willpower to ask Potter for help but he simply couldn't shake the feeling that sunk in his gut and left him uneasy. Harry too was looking for his three friends and remained just as clueless as Draco.

~~~

The following morning with the rising of the sun in the east Draco had never felt this type of worry before, the feeling left his chest to rise and fall faster than ever and allowed him to hear his own heartbeat in his skull. He stood in the stands next to Blaise and Theo who had been teasing the poor boy about his concerns for hours which had resulted in how snapping at them. Aurora was never one to go off-grid and not talk to anyone even Fred was unsure as to where she was and that really was a cause for concern.

The four competitors stood at their docks ready to jump into the water and retrieve something that they held dear, as soon as the horn sounded they were quick to launch themselves into the water. Everyone kept their eyes open but no one heard a single sound or saw anything until Fleur came up fifteen minutes later. She came up empty-handed gasping for air and worrying about her sister who she claimed was at the bottom of the lake. Cedric resurfaced roughly five minutes later clutching Hermione who woke up the second she came to the surface. He helped usher her to the docks where they were greeted by applause and blankets to warm them. A few minutes later Harry came up with Ron and Fleur's sister of course he had to be the hero Draco thought scoffing. But his attention peaked when he heard Harry yelling that Milan was under the water with Aurora and he needed help. Finally, after ten minutes Milan surfaced only Aurora was nowhere to be found Draco instantly panicked knowing something bad was happening, which caused him to run from his position in the stands to the docks demanding to know what had happened and where his girlfriend was. If Milan couldn't get to her nothing would stop Draco even in a frantic state he would go into lockdown with his emotions if it meant he could get Aurora to safety. She was his biggest priority.

Milan gave him a rough idea of where she was telling him that mermaids were attacking him and he was unable to get to Aurora, to the surprise of all the students and protests by teachers he took off his blazer and jumped in the lake which soaked through his which skirt and black pants in an instant the cold feeling like knives at his skin. Draco was actually an exceptional swimmer his entire childhood his mother would take him to the seaside and swim with him so he had the ability to hold his breath for a very long time. The Black Lake was murky and difficult to navigate so he used his wand to cast 'Lumos' swiftly, he saw a swarm of Mermaids surrounding something as he got closer they began attacking him acting fast he decided to cast 'Stupefy' to stun them rendering them unconscious as the current dragged them away from Aurora's body. She was unconscious.

He broke the rope tying her to the ground and used 'ascendio' to launch themselves to the surface, the second they breached the surface Aurora began gasping for her breath coughing and spluttering, her eyes darting rapidly around her trying to get a better grasp of her surroundings. It didn't take her long to realize Draco was swimming them both to the docks where they were both wrapped in blankets. Upon getting both their feet on solid ground Draco frantically grabbed Aurora's face wiping away her wet brown hair that was stuck to it then moving his hands down to her wrists where he pulled away slightly to ensure she wasn't injured after confirming to himself that she was okay he ushered her to Fred and Chloe who had run down to the docks the instant they saw Draco dive into the water.

Draco turned on his heels his chest heaving and breathing ragged as he took long strides to get in front of Milan who was next to Dumbledore and his own headmaster.

"YOU... I CAN'T FUCKING BELIEVE YOU," Draco began before being interrupted by Dumbledore.

'Draco I think it wise you take a moment to calm yourself down," To Draco, his voice was patronizing and angered him more.

"DON'T YOU START YOU WAS THE ONE WHO PUT HER IN DANGER IN THE FIRST PLACE I GET IF THE CHAMPIONS GET HURT OR DIE THEY ASK FOR IT BUT AUORA DIDN'T FUCKING ASK FOR IT. YOU PUT HER UNDER THE WATER WITH MERMAIDS THAT ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND JUST WHAT... HOPED SHE WOULD BE OKAY?" He paused catching his breath noticing a sympathetic look on Dumbledores part who didn't say anything else.

"BUT YOU...SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO MEAN SO MUCH TO YOU THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LEAVE HER AND WHAT DID YOU FUCKING DO? YOU LEFT HER! SHE COULD HAVE DIED THEY WERE ATTACKING HER YOU INCONSIDERATE FUCKING ARSEHOLE, YOUR LUCKY I DON'T GIVE YOU A REAL PIECE OF MY MIND." Draco spat his face inches from Milan's who seemed to be getting angrier and angrier with every word the blond boy spoke.

"You better get the fuck out of my face having the balls to threaten me but stop and think either do what you say or don't even think about letting the words slip from your mout-," Milan growled in response before he could finish with one swift punch Draco punched him straight in the jaw causing him to stumble backward into his headmaster's chest who pulled him back before he could retaliate. Yelling that they couldn't jeopardize the competition once again which made him angrier as he thrashed in his arms, "You better stay the fuck away from me Malfoy, or watch what will happen," He yelled using his free hand to wipe away the blood that was pooling from his lips, as Draco turned around smirking at his blood-covered knuckles.

"How about you stay the hell away from me Knox I'm not the one with a bloodied face," Draco muttered he walked back to Aurora who ran into his arms wrapping her arms around his neck both falling into a comfortable silence.