Utterly Broken

Chapter Fifteen

Harry stared at the letter numbly. This wasn't possible. Not George. Not one of his closest friends, who brought him into the pranking world with a laugh. Sure, the man had been greatly changed by his twin brother's death, who wouldn't be. But he wasn't capable of this. He couldn't be.

He had to talk to George. This couldn't be right. What would he do with Draco?

"Draco," Harry whispered anxiously, "I know-"

Draco turned to Harry, an icy fire in his eyes, "Who is it! Tell me!"

"Before I tell you, you can't kill him-"

"I'll do whatever I damn wish!" Draco screamed, "They killed my mother! She was the only good thing in my life, Harry! The only good thing!" Draco's face was red, and he seemed to be close to tears. But then he put on his mask, and his voice became horrifyingly calm, "Tell me."

"Er..." Harry put his hands over his face, letter still in his hands, "Just read the letter," he rasped.

The Slytherin snatched the letter, nearly tearing it. His eyes moved furiously before they stopped suddenly, icy and silver. Draco dropped the letter, face determined, "We're going to see him-"

"Are you going to do anything?" Harry asked anxiously, "Because I know you have a right but-"

"I'm not going to hurt him," Draco whispered, face void of any emotion, "I need to know..." His masked cracked to show complete agony, before he covered it up again, "I need to know what she said. I need to know her last... her last words."

"Okay," Harry replied, voice hoarse, "We'll ask Hermione where he is."

Draco stepped towards Harry, face scrunched up in barely masked determination, "Now."

/*/*/*/*/*

Draco had no idea what he felt right now. Only that it was all bad. He wanted to punch something. He wanted to punch that Weasley. He wanted to punch all the Weasleys. He wanted to punch Harry. And then he wanted to kiss Harry. He wanted to scream. He wanted to die. HE WANTED HIS MOTHER.

But she was dead.

His mother, who would kiss his scrapes, saying, "Be strong now, my dragon." His mother, who hugged him fiercely against his father's wishes before he left for Hogwarts. His mother, who sent him a letter everyday, and sweets once a week, up till 7th year when she stopped because he was home (That word hadn't applied then, but he didn't know what else to call it). His mother, who didn't say anything after was marked, only held him as he cried and cried. His mother, who would stand up to her husband for Draco only. His mother, who was almost a Hufflepuff because of her fierce loyalty. His mother, who secretly wished she had been sorted into Hufflepuff.

His mother, who was dead.

And George Weasley killed her.

/*/*/*/*/*

Hermione was staring out the window of the burrow, anxiously waiting for Harry's new owl to arrive with a letter. What if he told Malfoy? What if Malfoy killed George? It would be all her fault.

Molly had told her about George's attempt, and she immediately visited him at St. Mungos. Some how their conversation turned to Fred, and she had talked about their unlikely friendship. It was her reaction to finding out that Fred had a crush on her (She reacted like a mess, crying softly and blushing like crazy) that had prompted George to tell her what he did. 

After the visit, she had gone to the Burrow and ran over all the possibilities. She had no idea what to do with the information she had been given. She knew that Harry had gone off with Malfoy to search for Mrs. Malfoy's killer, (And unfortunately didn't any time to yell at him for that stupid decision), but she still didn't want to tell Harry what she knew. She knew it would kill Harry to ever bring Malfoy pain.