In The Wake Of Crows And Snakes

Chapter 2: Death Eaters Attack

Y/n's hand was throbbing, pain radiating from the sight of the two puncture wounds. As she walked the path leading back to the tents, a pale white hand grabbed her good one, halting her movement mid-stride. Her heart began to pound in her chest as she turned and came face to face with the same steel-grey stare as before.

"Merlin's beard, Draco!" she breathed, trying to calm herself. "You almost gave me a heart attack! What are you doing sneaking around in the dark?" Her tone carried a hint of annoyance. "Didn't Cornelius pay you enough attention?" she added mockingly.

"Just going for a walk after the game, Claremont. Why so suspicious?" he asked, tilting his head and giving her a playful squint. "And no, I don't suppose he did. I do quite like having my ego stroked." He retorted with a grin.

"I'd noticed," Y/n scoffed.

"I saw," Draco said quickly, raising a taut brow once again.

Heat flushed Y/n's cheeks, leaving her with a red glow. "I just...what do you want, Malfoy?" she sighed, clearly having had enough of him for one night.

He remained silent for a moment, taking in her flushed state triumphantly before his eyes rested on her bandaged hand. He swallowed before tossing her a small bottle of potion. She caught it and turned it in her hand to read the label. 'Antidote' was scrawled on a small piece of parchment, neatly in what she assumed to be Draco's handwriting.

"For the bite," he said shortly, his head hanging low.

"Oh, um, I have an essence of—" Y/n began, but Draco interrupted.

"Dittany will heal the wound, but the cane is charmed. You may as well have been bitten by an actual snake. Don't use it without the antidote first, or the wound will heal with the venom still under your skin. It's not pretty." He explained, raising his head again to look at her.

Y/n stared at him, her eyes flicking back and forth as she tried to gauge his intentions. She decided he was telling the truth, likely from personal experience.

"I—um, thank you," she said slowly, still slightly dismayed by the whole interaction. He watched as she unwound the bandage placed by Hermione and revealed the two puncture wounds, beginning to fester. She winced as she put a few drops of the antidote onto the wound, watching as the venom receded to nothing, followed by the dittany, which closed the wound entirely. She smiled as she wiggled her thumb around. "Good as new!" she stated with another wiggle. She looked up at Draco, who looked deep in contemplation or thought. Y/n felt a small frown cross her features as she thought about the whole situation. She should be mad! It was his father that struck her with the cane in the first place! But the image of Draco being thumped in the chest moments before her, played in her head instead. "Draco, where is your fath—" She was cut off by an explosion as fire streamed into the air. People began to emerge from their tents, and others ran as more explosions sounded.

"Run! Get out! It's Death Eaters!" a terrified voice shrieked from the crowd.

Y/n locked eyes with Draco before readying herself to charge off into the crowd, towards the explosions.

"Don't!" Draco yelled, his arm quickly reaching out to catch hers once more.

Y/n winced as he made contact with her hand, he gripped her so tightly. She gruffly pried herself free of his grasp yelling herself, "Harry! My friends! I need to get back to them! They—they..." Her breaths came out in short, panicked bursts as she scanned the area for a clear route.

"Get down!" Draco shouted as he tackled Y/n into a nearby bush as the Death Eaters grew closer and people began shoving as they ran.

"No, no! I need to get back to the tent! I need to get back to the others!" Y/n thrashed against his weight, unable to move.