For The Greater Good (A Draco Malfoy Story)

Can you hear me?

     "Ah shit, alright time to go back in that blasted tent," Gabriel sighed.

I understood why he hated the tent as much as I did. It was too confining. Sure it was spacious enough, but for people like Gabriel and I, it made us go mad if we stayed long in it. That's why we were out in the first place. The crisp, fresh air of the winter season cleared our lungs and our heads instantly. God, I loved winter. You'd think living in England would make me sick of the season considering it was cold there more often than not, but it didn't. I welcomed the chill even though sometimes it made it hard to fly. It was like being brought to life with your hands tied behind your back.

We were quite far from the tent since we had been scoping the forest out. I started to make my way back to the tent when I heard yelling. My ears perked up and I looked at Gabriel in confusion mingled with a bit of panic. He nodded with his sleek head and tore his way to the tent. I ran after him and by the time we got back the yelling had stopped somewhat. I could only hear Hermione's voice, and it was unusually tight and chocked up...like she was crying. She was yelling Ron's name and I looked just in time to see the ginger himself walking away from the tent in blind fury, a nasty black, green and red warring with each other around him.

"Go inside and see whats the matter, I'll deal with Ron and see where he's going," Gabriel said, a frown marring his features. With a quick nod, I hurried into the tent only to have Hermione push past me and follow Gabriel. I looked to Harry who kept his expression stony as if it was made of granite, but I could see the regret in his eyes and without him saying a word, I knew. It was going to happen sooner or later, I had been waiting for this. I knew the locket was changing Ron and yet, I did nothing. What could have possessed me to sit back and watch everything instead of stepping in? This was all my fault.

Hermione and Gabriel came back fifteen minutes later after she had shouted herself hoarse and her eyes started to swell with all the tears shed. I hurried to wrap a blanket around her and push a mug of steaming tea in her hands but she didn't look at me, her limbs moving robotically as they settled in a love-seat in the corner of the tent. I could tell she wanted to be left alone, so I did just that. Harry followed suit and stormed outside, muttering about taking first watch while Gabriel and I looked at each other with resignation. How were we supposed to get closer to finding Horcruxes if we were fighting amongst ourselves and breaking up? How are we supposed to do anything when I let all of this happen?

Walking back into the kitchen, i poured myself a cup of tea as well, absorbing the warmth greedily into my hands. The kitchen wasn't much, just a stove, some cupboards and a wooden table. On the table sat a few of Hermione's books ranging from a multitude of subjects and also the Marauder's Map. Oh to be back in Hogwarts again. As I sat at the table and opened the map, I felt a longing for the past creep up on me stronger than ever. How simple everything was then, those first few months at school. I looked through each corridor on the map, each classroom and each common room, looking and looking but I couldn't admit to what. I peaked at the Slytherin common room then closed the map quickly when I saw the name of certain blonde.

A groan left my lips as I leaned my head against the table. I have got to get my priorities straight. How are we going to do all of this and save the bloody world?

Gabriel sighed as he walked into the kitchen and sat in front of her, taking a sip of her tea. "I really don't know, Rosie. Sometimes I forget we're just teenagers. I mean, I feel like I'm fifty years old."

You look it, that's for sure, I thought with a derisive snort.

"Oi, don't be an arsehole. My ego doesn't need a beating," Gabriel scowled at her.

Wait. What? I hadn't said that out loud...

I looked at my brother closely and focused all my might on our connection. You smell like bologna and Marmite and no one cares that you can play the Star Wars theme song on the bassoon.

"I do not smell like bologna and Marmite! And I beg to differ! Girls love hearing about my bassoon!"

"Gabe."

"What?" he snapped.

"I didn't say a word."

"What do you mean, you just said --"

"No, Gabe. I hadn't said anything. I was thinking it."

Gabriel's eyes widened. "You mean I heard your thoughts?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "I guess our power is building. This is so awesome, now I can hear you in case you're in trouble and I don't have to shift into my animagus."

He looked at me thoughtfully, the corners of his mouth tightening a fraction but a softness entering his eyes. "Your abilities are growing stronger, " he muttered.

"Gabe...by the way... I know. I know about everything...Dad told me," I said.

His face went blank when I mentioned our father and he said in a deadpan voice. "Everything?" I nodded to confirm and he sighed. "Good...now onto what happened today" he quickly changed the subject. I guess now wasn't the time to get him to talk about our father. I wondered when the time would come.

"Apparently Ron and Harry got in a fight, Ron was sick of being on the run and the fact that we didn't have any luck finding the Horcuxes made him angrier. He didn't sound like himself when I had stopped him. Then he just apparated away before I could stop him again," he finished, running his hands through his hair.
"That wasn't Ron! That was the blasted locket influencing him," I said. Gabriel shushed me and glanced at Harry's bunk where he lay unmoving.

"Come on, time to go to bed, Rosie," he said using his nickname for me that he came up with when we were little. I gave him a small smile before getting ready for bed. I just hope tomorrow's going to be better.