Underneath the Mistletoe

ChapterTwentyTwo

Draco's POV
ThirdYear-DayFour

Draco was in shock. Or at least that's what Madam Pomfrey told him. She had also told him it was an appropriate reaction to the dementors attack. However Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle weren't sweating through their cloths or breathing like they'd just woken from a nightmare so why was he? Draco asked Madam Pomfrey this and the nurses answer only made him wish he hadn't.

"Those with darker pasts are more seriously affected by the dementors Mr. Malfoy." Madam Pomfrey gave him a considerate look before promptly continuing. "I have my qualifications in young witch and wizard psychology. If there is ever a time that you'd like to speak to somebody, and I'm sure the majority of the teachers at Hogwarts would likely be open to a private session if you needed one. "

"Like therapy?" Draco had demanded, appalled by the very thought. She couldn't be serious.  Therapy was for people who had disorders. Something he, Draco Malfoy, most certainly did not have. And "darker pasts"? What was the old hag implying? He knew that Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle all had parents  who were ex-death eaters. They all lived with a quiet looming fear of what would happen if that was discovered. Or worse, what would happen if the Dark Lord came back.
Closing his eyes, Draco banished the impossible idea.

He had dismissed the nurses offer without further discussion. However, alone in his hospital bed with the curtains drawn, he had contemplated just what made him react differently then his friends when the dementors were around.

"People with darker pasts are affected more seriously by the dementors."

The nurses words echoed in his head. He understood now why Harry's reaction to the horrible creatures was so severe.

Before he could overthink it, Draco, with a trembling hand, reached out and pulled back the hospital beds curtain just enough to see that two beds were taken up by unconscious occupants. Potter was in the bed nearest to him, Pansy one more over. Madam Pomfrey had changed them both into thin white gowns made of soft cotton. She had insisted on removing all of their cold and snow soaked clothes. Both of their figures looked pale and frail against the white sheets that were neatly tucked in at their sides.

Someone, most likely the nurse, had removed Potters glasses, which were placed neatly on the bedside table. Draco stared at the other boys rested face, not a single line creased his features, he found himself wishing he was able to see it like that more often.

Potters chest moved at a steady pace now. Merlin, Draco could hardly believe the situation they had all been in only a few hours ago. Potter had been in even worse shape then himself.

"Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco jumped and the curtain fell back in place, blocking his view of the other two. Seconds later Madam Pomfrey pulled the curtain back with an audible whooooosh.

"Drink this, it will put you into a very heavy sleep." She handed him a potion that bubbled like root beer but was the colour of lavender flowers. And the smell, oh the smell, Draco took a deep whiff and almost moaned in satisfaction. The bubbling potion all at once smelled of cherry scone, treacle tart, the wind, tart apples, and mahogany.

"What is it?" He asked curiously, he had never seen(or smelled) such a substance.

"It's an ordinary sleeping potion laced with a hint of, how to explain, something like Amorentia." The nurses face looked pinched.

Draco almost dropped the tiny vial. "Wait, what?!"

"It doesn't have any of the love potions components," Madam Pomfrey explained with a bit of a sigh, "besides those that cause the potion to smell of the things that attract you, the drinker, the most."

"Why?" Draco choked out, staring at the purple liquid nervously.

"Because usually when we have to put someone in such a deep sleep its because of a serious physical wound, they panic and resist because they're in a troubled headspace. We really can't be having that kind of trouble. Now drink up young man-oh, I almost forgot!" She reached into the folds of her robes and from one of many pockets, the nurse pulled out a chunk of chocolate. "Eat this, it will make you feel better," she insisted.

Wanting to put off having to drink the sleeping potion for as long as possible, Draco somewhat apprehensive, took a bite and had to admit, as the smooth creamy chocolate coated his tongue, that it did make him feel better.

No longer apprehensive Draco wolfed down the rest of it and found himself craving more when it was done.
"Very good young man. Now the potion."

Taking a deep breath Draco tipped his head back he swallowed the vials contents in one go. The taste was even better then the smell. It was just as thick and creamy as the chocolate but it had this after taste of treacle tart. The effects took no time to kick in. Draco's lids felt impassibly heavy and and his arms and legs felt as if they were strapped down. His thoughts instantly fogged up. Draco yawned and let himself be carried to sleep.

-x-

When he awoke it was with a start. A strangled scream wrenched itself from his throat and his eyes flew open as he gasped for air, it took a moment to reorient himself. The hospital wing was dark now, night had rolled around, the only light came from the few lamps that were still lit. True, the sleep had been deep, Draco didn't think he'd ever experienced anything like it. However the whole time his eyes had been shut, the afternoons events had replayed themselves in great detail.

The moment he had slipped into his own head, the heart pounding beat had surged back into his chest. He saw once again the ginormous figures cloaked in nightmares and darkness. The cold, that had nothing to do with the wind,  and snow seeped through to his bones and ran chills up his spine. Feeling the terror close in. Hearing Pansy and the boa screaming, audible but invisible in the falling sheets of snow.
Holding Potters hand.
Because despite it all, the fights, bickering, and throwing each other off the broom (wizard expression for "throwing each other under the bus") Draco knew Potter would save him. He knew with all his being that so long as he was with the horribly cocky yet annoyingly courageous Gryffindor he would be safe.

And then there was the near blinding flash of brightness that had spurred from Potters wand. A patronus. Draco had nearly taken a step back. Only extraordinarily powerful witches and wizards could create such magic. Draco realized now how foolish he had been for underestimating Potter. He was after all "The bloody boy who lived".

Draco's breathing was still sharp and ragged. He took a moment to close his eyes and calm his heart down. His sheets were all twisted up in his legs, his dreams had been horribly vivid. He hoped to never be in the presence of those chilling creatures ever again.
In the dark hospital wing Draco sat in the bed, too scared to fall asleep and possibly see them once again.

As the sun rose and light bled in through the windows, Draco remained awake. It was only puffy eyed and exhausted, with light streaming in through the windows, that he finally drifted into a light sleep.

-x-

Wow I can't believe it's already chapter twenty two!

1. Apologies for not updating last week. I had at least one test everyday and it was pretty stressful. Even this week(days from the Winter Break!) I'm still getting homework.

2. Christmas is so close! I can't wait to have time off of school and just relax(I'll also be updating more and pre writing chapters)
Have you all got your trees? (Ps happy holidays to those who don't celebrate Christmas:)

3. If you have any suggestions or ideas on ways I could improve my writing leave a comment:)
It would also mean a lot if you left a vote. They let me know that people are reading and like my work which inspires me to continue.