Time Travel

Chapter 9

Holly went to the cottage while Draco went to Malfoy Manor even though he didn't want to go. Draco was given his old room where he used to stay in the future. He decorated it the same. Lucius just let him do whatever he want. Draco sighed and sat on his bed thinking what to do.

Draco was pacing in his room when Narcissa knocked on the door and entered his room. She raised an eyebrow at his appearance and then understood what he might be thinking.

"Draco, I know you like Holly but don't worry, she will be fine and Rabastan won't do anything to her. Trust me, she will be fine and she will understand your love slowly but surely." Narcissa assured him.

Draco sighed looking at her. He nodded his head but didn't speak anything. Narcissa just shook her head and left the room asking him to come for lunch. Draco went to wash his face and then went down for lunch. He saw Severus sitting there sullenly beside his father.

"Ah, Draco. Come on, let's start lunch and we can talk later. Shall we?" Everyone nodded and started eating when Lucius snapped his fingers and food appeared in front of them. Draco was looking at Severus who was just picking at his food but didn't say anything.

"So, Severus what happened to you?" Draco asked him as soon as they moved into the living room. Lucius ordered the house elf to bring them some red wine from the cellar. He shook his head as Severus didn't say anything. Narcissa was also curious about what happened to him.

"He met Evans yesterday and checked her for compulsions." Lucius informed them. They looked at him with rapt attention to know if she is under them or not. "She is not under any spells or potions. She is clear of everything."

Draco closed his eyes to control his anger. She did it all willingly. She made that stupid contract knowing what that meant. He didn't know if he can control himself not to kill her next time he saw her. He can understand Dumbledore wanting power but she is Holly's mother, how can she do this to her own daughter.

"Also, Dumbledore wants her to get married to James as soon as possible. Evans heard you and Holly talking while you were in Diagon but they don't know who you are. She was the one who was stopping letters to Sirius on his orders." Lucius informed them.

"They were married in December and she gave birth on 31 July 1980. But now it's still July. We have to stop their marriage. We have to plan something. We can't let this happen. We can't let James suffer just because they want power and money. He is innocent and we have to save him." Draco said firmly.

"We have to stop the engagement too. We can't let everyone know about them getting engaged. Dumbledore will use it to gain her sympathy if the engagement is broken." Lucius said deep in thought.

"They are Aurors, why don't you try and talk to them at the ministry." Narcissa said to him. Lucius looked at her in thought.

"I can try but..." Lucius sighed.

"But?" Draco asked him confused.

"The head Auror, Barty Crouch Sr. thinks I'm a death eater and won't allow me anywhere near the Auror department. He is firmly in Dumbledore's pocket." Lucius explained.

"I know him. He sent Sirius to Azkaban without any trial." Draco sneered.

"Maybe I can go to the manor again. As she doesn't know I'm coming, she won't be able to stop me." Narcissa said after some silence.

"I'll come with you." Draco said immediately. Lucius nodded. "We can go tomorrow, why don't you go and tell Holly about it?"

"No, she is already worried about her dad. If I say this she will be more worried." Draco shook his head. "I'll tell her after we talk to them."

"You are right. We can tell her after we talked to them. Are you coming with us, Severus?" Lucius asked him.

"No." Severus said curtly. Draco frowned, he didn't understand what Severus had against James still. He knows that James is innocent of everything that happened. He is the victim himself. Is he still blaming James?

"You think James is lying and he is the same as your Lily-flower?" Draco asked.

Severus narrowed his eyes at his future godson. He still couldn't trust James Potter, he doesn't think he is under love potions or compulsions. Just because, Lily is not under any compulsions doesn't mean she gave Potter love potion. He didn't go deep into Lily's mind as there are some barriers, he can't risk breaking them. The only one he could enter was the meeting with Dumbledore saying her to stop Narcissa's letters when she said about Holly and Draco. Dumbledore also wanted her to get married as soon as possible. He was about to see more but Lily was starting to wake up and he acted like he was concerned as she fainted. She didn't doubt him and left as soon as possible. From what he saw he can't tell if James was innocent or not.

"Why don't you believe?" Draco said angrily.

"Evans was his first friend even from before Hogwarts. He doesn't want to believe that she did all the things that Holly said." Lucius sighed. "He'll soon know the truth. Don't worry, Draco. He will believe as soon as he sees the proof."

Severus didn't say anything. Draco snorted making everyone look at him.

"Oh, no. Then the great Severus Snape will say that Lily doesn't know anything about potions and it was Dumbledore who gave it to James. She is innocent. She is his Lily-flower, she won't do anything like that." Draco said sarcastically.

"Draco." Narcissa tried to stop him.

"What? I'm not lying. He still doesn't believe James. He must be thinking how to save Lily from Dumbledore's manipulations. Right?" Draco looked straight into Severus' eyes.

"Yes, I know Lily is not under any compulsions. Maybe James is also not. You don't know either if he is under any. Dumbledore is a mastermind, just like Dark Lord. Both are best at manipulating people. Maybe, Dumbledore told her to stop letters from Narcissa because Lucius is rumoured to be a death eater. She must be worried about her fiancé" He spat out the word. "You can't blame her. She is still innocent, you don't have proof to show that she is giving love potion to James even if he is under it. Dumbledore can give it to him and make him fall in love with her."

Draco closed his eyes to control his anger. Lucius couldn't believe what he is hearing, Really, he still believes that redhead. How can Severus be so blind? She is his first friend that doesn't mean he trusts her so blindly. Narcissa wanted to give a peace of her kind to Severus. Why is he acting like this? What happened to the Severus who invented spells and who created potions? He was intelligent but now she can only see a person who is so blind in his love towards a bitch, witch.

"Excuse me." Draco left the room not wanting fight with Severus. He still liked the man but he can't sit there and listen more about that woman, he hates her as much as Bellatrix who killed his father. Draco went out instead of going to his room.

"Severus, are you serious? I mean, you still believe her." Lucius asked him as soon as Draco left.

"I know her better than you all. Holly Potter must be lying or James Potter must've lied to her and Draco. He was just a portrait of a dead man, how can you believe a dead man? Dumbledore must've tricked her into signing the contract that Holly mentioned." Severus said angrily.

"I hope when the truth comes out, you are strong enough to face it, Severus." Narcissa said sadly and left the room.

"It should be Draco who needs to be strong after he knows that Potters tricked him. You can't trust Potters blindly." Severus said looking at Lucius.

"I have some work to finish, make yourself comfortable." Lucius said and he too left Severus alone leaving him to his own thoughts.

Draco went to Lestrange Cottage after debating for sometime if he should go or not. He knows it is just a few hours but he wants to meet her and make sure she is fine. Rabastan is a nice person but Draco still didn't like him. He didn't like Holly staying alone with Rabastan.

Rabastan came into the room as soon as he exited the floo. He smiled at Draco and pointed upstairs and left the room. Draco blinked not understanding but went upstairs. There were four rooms upstairs, he saw that three of them are unoccupied and knocked on the fourth one. He waited for sometime before Holly opened it.

"Draco." She smiled and hugged him. Draco automatically smiled back and hugged her feeling happy. He didn't want her to ever leave his arms and go away from him. He wants the world to stop and stay like that. But she pulled apart soon, he didn't show how much he wanted to hold her. She held his arm and took him inside her room.

The room was in lavender and white, it was beautiful. There was a bed which can fit five people and a wardrobe, a bookshelf and study table. There is another door which might be a bathroom. She pulled him onto the bed and sat with him. There were armchairs or couches to sit.

"It's nice, isn't it?" She asked him and he nodded a little. "I like it. Rabastan said as he stays alone, he never thought of buying extra furniture but I like it."

"It's nice." Draco agreed.

"So, you miss me already?" She asked looking at him with a teasing smile.

"Yes, I miss you so much." He fell back onto the bed dramatically. She laughed and turned towards him. She frowned as she felt anger and sadness. "What happened?" Draco asked as she frowned.

"Nothing. It's just, never mind." She didn't tell him or others about it till now. She didn't want them thinking she is a freak trying to read others emotions. Draco sat up and held her hand making her look at him.

"You know, you can tell me anything." She hesitated but he was being honest.

"I'm an empath." She looked down at her lap waiting for him to say something.

"Oh?" He knew a little about empaths, he read about them. Lady Potter is also one if he is correct. She was a Black and Holly is her granddaughter, she must've got it from Lady Dorea Potter nee Black. He looked at Holly who was fiddling with her shirt. "What are you worried about?" He was confused.

"You are not mad?" She looked at him with a bit of fear. She is the same person who fought Voldemort, who came back in time to save her and his family, who befriended Lestranges, what is she afraid of?

"Why would I be mad?" He looked at her not at all understanding anything.

"I can read your emotions, I mean I can feel them. You must think I'm a freak just like my relatives and Ron, Hermione and others. I didn't mean to but I can't stop but feel you were angry and sad a few moments back. I met a lady two weeks back in Diagon, she said I can control feeling what others are feeling when I reach 18 and get all my powers to be an empath. I'm sorry." She rambled.

"Holly, It's ok. Don't worry. I'm not mad and I will never think you are a freak. You are not a freak, people who think you are a freak are freaks. Also, empathy is a gift from mother magic to only special people, you are special. I know your grandmother is also one, you must've got it from her." Draco said calmly.

"My grandmother?" He nodded. "Oh, the one who gave me the book on empathy, the one I met in the bookstore. It must be her, she seemed familiar. I should've recognised her. Then, maybe dad will be away from Evans now." She said angry at herself.

"Holly, It's not your fault. We still can save him. Don't worry." He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. She sighed.

"But, Draco. I missed the chance to save my dad."

"You have some more chances in the future. No, Holly. Don't blame yourself for everything." Draco said sternly. She nodded reluctantly. "Now why don't you tell me about your empathy skills."

Holly's face lit up and she went to the desk where some books are placed and brought a book back to the bed. They sat leaning on the head headboard and she said what she knows about Empaths and what they can do. Draco just looked at her listened to her beautiful and excited voice.

"I'm still reading it, you know. The book looks thin but it has so many pages, must be some charm. Don't you think?" She asked looking at him. His eyes were looking at her intently and she felt an emotion that is foreign to her, she never felt that till now, she concentrated on the emotion and her eyes widened.