Lonely No More

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The echo of Draco's scream reverberated in Harry's head as he raced out of the shop and almost ran straight into Lucius. He spun round, pretending to look into the shop window and gave a silent prayer that Lucius would just keep on walking. The elder man did just that and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

He waited for a few moments just in case Lucius might change his mind, before setting off down the alleyway. He stopped at the edge of the building and glanced around. The shadow and light relief on the narrow pathway mirrored his inner turmoil – shock and anger.

Shock and anger at the cold-blooded manner the Death Eater had dealt with his son. Although Draco had never been anything more than the constant object of his undirected hatred and vice versa, Harry realised the very real danger a person like Lucius was to lives of the innocent people of Wizardkind.

Harry moved quickly to Draco's side; the boy was lying quite still on the cobblestones. There was blood on his hair from a cut on his temple, and a livid red mark on his right cheek where Lucius' hand had hit him.

"Malfoy," Harry reached out and touched Draco's shoulder. A pause, then urgently, "Malfoy, are you okay?" There was no movement from the boy, except for the rise and fall of his chest. Harry debated whether he should use an Invigorating spell to wake him up, but he doubted Draco would appreciate it much.

Harry shook his shoulder gently and quickly withdrew his hand as Draco groaned softly and struggled to sit up. Harry took a step back, and another, not entirely sure what Draco's reaction would be to seeing his schoolboy enemy crouching over him while he was down and out. Draco finally managed to get himself in a half-sitting position; he opened his eyes, looking bewildered and disoriented. He wiped a hand across his eyes; Harry could not tell whether it was to wipe away the tears or to clear his sight.

Draco remained still for long moments, eyes tightly shut and a grey pallor tinting his skin. Harry began to wonder if the boy was in shock. He shifted closer to Draco, who made no indication of acknowledging his presence.

"Malfoy, wake up. Are you okay?" he repeated urgently. He was aware of a small crowd gathering at the entrance to the alleyway.

Draco opened his eyes slowly, but his features remained blank. Harry touched his cheek briefly with the back of his hand; Draco's skin was cold. Harry cursed inwardly and he reached out to touch Draco's arm lightly. "Can you get up?"

As the pain subsides a little, allowing coherent though to trickle through, Draco's confused gaze finally rested on the boy leaning over him. "Potter?" His eyes darted sideways to the gathering crowd of curious onlookers. He tried to pull his arm away, but the movement made him dizzy and he slumped against the wall resignedly. Harry chanced a quick look over his shoulder as crowd moved closer, the low murmurs and dark looks sending alarm bells in his mind.

Harry debated for a moment about just walking away, but he couldn't leave Malfoy like this, especially if he was stranded with no wand and no money. "Malfoy, get up." He said insistently, praying silently that he wouldn't be recognised under his hat. The seedier side of Wizarding London was not a safe place for underage wizards to venture alone, even for the sons of dark wizards. Especially for the son of a rich, dark wizard.

The crowd shuffled closer as one.

Draco's retort died unvoiced and his eyes widened in fear.

Harry slowly rose to his feet, his eyes fixed on Draco's; he had his back towards the crowd and his wand firmly gripped in his right hand, hidden from view. He held out his left hand towards Draco and urged the boy up silently. Draco looked at the outstretched hand, then towards the advancing crowd before finally locking eyes with Harry once again.

No words were spoken.

Finally, Draco reached out for the hand, and Harry pulled him to his feet. Nausea hit him again and he gripped Harry's arm in blind panic. "Come on," Harry urged as the crowd advanced closer. Draco's grip on his arm tightened, and he saw the boy shaking his head slowly.

"It hurts," Draco said hoarsely, his eyes flitting around the side alley and his face lined with tension.

"Lean on me," Harry said as he gripped him around the waist, supporting his weight. Draco hesitated for a moment as Harry pulled him urgently; then he gave in and slung his right arm around Harry's shoulder. Harry steered him around, and they found their way blocked. Shabby-looking wizards whose faces were half-hidden by the cowls of their robes, hags with blackened teeth and an assortment of suspicious looking characters advanced silently towards them. "Malfoy," Harry said, as he forced himself to calm down. "Can you run?"

Draco shook his head weakly, but said nothing.

One of wizards made a grab for Draco, but pulled his hand back with a sharp hiss as Harry drew his wand.

"Back off," Harry said loudly, as he drew Draco closer to his side.

An angry murmur came from the crowd, as they pulled back slightly. Harry took a step back, wand trained on the crowd warily. "Malfoy, get ready to run." He spoke softly, so only Draco could hear him. He felt the fingers on his shoulder flex a little, but nothing else. "Okay," he said under his breath. "Let's go."

Harry may not look like it, but he was fast on his feet. Draco's weight slowed him down a little and he tightened his hold on the boy's waist as he half-supported, half-dragged Draco down the dingy alleyway. Footsteps rang on the cobblestones as the crowd gave chase. A hand closed on his cloak, jerking him backwards. Harry spun around, and lashed out blindly. His fist connected with something, and someone shrieked.

The crowd surged, arms seeking purchase on the two boys. Harry whipped out his wand.

"Impedimenta!" he yelled. The spell hit the crowd at random; someone froze and fell over. Angry shouts spurred him into action, he staggered back a few paces, dragging Draco with him and yelled loudly. "IMPEDIMENTA!"

Panting, Harry tightened his hold on Draco and they ran, hard, down the twisting alleyways. The spell was not permanent, and he knew the crowd would come after them with renewed vengeance in a few minutes. Harry ran blindly, dragging Draco with him and did not stop until they came out of the gloomy, dingy alleyways. He steered Draco through the busy thoroughfare, and breathed a sigh of relief as he finally caught sight of the Gringotts Bank.

He leaned against a wall, catching his breath and looked sideways at his companion. Draco's skin was unnaturally pale, the blood on his temple standing out starkly, and his breathing shallow. Harry quickly pulled Draco's cowl over his head; they did not need to draw further attention onto themselves. Draco raised his eyes and nodded, once.

"Come on," Harry said quietly and led him to the Leaky Cauldron.