Thicker than Blood (Draco Malfoy love story)

Chapter Twenty-five: Strongest Connections

Phoenix's POV

I sit in the nurse's office, letting her check my vitals and stuff. I fainted in transfiguration, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked me down here again. This shit is getting old.

I let myself sink into shock, letting the pain wash over me. I let myself drown in it. Because, really, what else is there to do?

"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" Madam Pomfrey asks quietly.

I laugh darkly. "Mentally or physically?"

She sighs and sits on the chair next to me. "Both, I suppose."

I sigh. "Physically, I'm fine. But mentally... I'm in some deep shit emotionally. I just walked away from the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm an idiot."

She sits next to me and strokes my hair. "What happened, Phoenix?"

I sigh. "I broke up with my boyfriend. His ex girlfriend told him that she still loves him, then I overheard him talking to his friend. He told his friend that he might still love her. So I broke up with him, very calmly, and told him that he needs to decide."

She stays quiet for a minute, still stroking my hair. The gesture is really comforting, and I feel myself relaxing against my will.

"Well, it sounds like you did the honorable thing." She says simply.

I nod slowly. "It does sound like it, doesn't it? But... But it doesn't feel right. Like I shouldn't have left him." Of course, I already know why. No creature is meant to leave their mate. The only reason it isn't literally killing me is because we never made the final bond. As in, I never had sex with him.

"I wouldn't get too upset, love. There is still a chance that he will pick you." She says softly.

I perk up a little. Why didn't that occur to me? It wasn't necessarily a final goodbye. He might come back, after all.

I smile at her, then glance at the clock. It's time for lunch. Wow, time goes fast when you pour out your soul to someone.

I thank her, then follow the smell of food. I walk in, feeling lighter than ever. I sit with my house, looking around for a certain someone.

I frown. Where's Draco? I look around again, not bothering to be subtle this time. He's not here, surprisingly.

I inhale three plates of food, earning some disgusted looks from the girls nearby and some impressed ones from the guys. Then I stand up and walk to the commons, muttering the password and walking in silently. After a quick glance around the room, I walk up to the boy's rooms.

I don't find him there either. I frantically start searching for anything that might tell me where he is. A detention letter, a permission slip, a teacher's note. Anything that could help.

That's when I realize that something isn't right. I look around the room, trying to pinpoint it. After a second, I realize the feeling has nothing to do with my surroundings. It's coming from the bond.

I close my eyes and focus on Draco, letting the bond come to the forefront of my mind. Because we aren't completely bonded, it's not very strong, but it's something at least. I can tell he's unconscious, but it doesn't feel like sleep.

I walk forward, keeping my eyes closed. I give a small sigh of relief when my feet move in their own direction. The bond can walk me to where he is.

I follow it for a while, but I don't dare open my eyes to check the time. I haven't walked past anyone, as far as I know. Finally, we enter a large room. I don't open my eyes yet. I can hear my footsteps echo and I hear water splash beneath my feet. The smell of stagnant water chokes me for a second, but I quickly adapt my breathing.

I open my eyes. I'm in a bathroom. Oh shit, I'm in a bathroom. What if I was wrong about the feeling and Draco just needed to take a piss?

I force myself to calm down and look around. Wait a second...

"Myrtle, are you awake?" I call out quietly. I've been in here a few times to see Myrtle. Why would Draco be in a girl's bathroom?

"P-Phoenix? Is that you?" I hear her whisper.

"Yes, it's me. Myrtle, what happened?" I ask, starting to panic.

She comes out of the stall she was hiding in. "Oh, Phoenix, it was awful! It just came and took him, just like that! I wanted to help, but I can't do anything!" She begins to sob hysterically.

"Myrtle, who did it take? And what was it?" I ask slowly.

"Draco. It took Draco." She whispers.

I feel my entire world start turning the opposite direction. The walls spin, the ceiling spins, everything spins. Spinning, spinning, spinning...

Draco.

I suddenly feel a wave of calm flow over me. Why am I freaking out? I need to find Draco, I don't have time to freak out. I smile as the calmness takes over. Why am I even worried? He's okay. I can feel it. Our bond is stronger than ever.

"Where did it take him, Myrtle?" I ask softly.

She gestures to the sink. I giggle a little. "It shoved him down the sink? I don't think so, pretty-Myrtie."

She looks at me like I've lost my mind. "Are you okay, Phoenix?"

I smile. "I'm great actually. I just really want to see Draco. And I think I'll kiss him when I see him. I miss his kisses. They were so sweet." I say wistfully.

She floats over to the sink, keeping a watchful eye on me. She points to one of the faucets. It has a snake carved into it.

"Can you speak parseltongue?" She asks.

I think for a minute. "The snake language?" She nods. "Yes. I learned it when I learned mermaid and troll."

"Okay. That's good. All you have to do is ask it to open." She says.

I nod and look at it. "Open, bitch." I hiss.

It immediately opens, doing lots of creaking and groaning. It obviously hasn't been opened in a while. Then it hits me. The Chamber of Secrets.

I look at the pipe, then wink at Myrtle. "Want me to bring you back a present?"

She shakes her head, still looking concerned. I shrug and climb in, popping my neck so that it doesn't do it while I'm sliding. Then I let go.

I give a lengthy battle cry as I go down. After all, it's go big or go home, right?