Entranced (Draco Malfoy)

•twenty-four•

The Hogwarts castle is on edge. On the sixth day back at Hogwarts, a Saturday, a ministry official arrived in the form of Percy Weasley. However, he didn't come alone. He brought Rufus Scrimgeour along with him. 

The news immediately passes through the castle. It isn't every day the Minister for Magic is in the castle, especially for something as awful as Dove's injury. 

Rufus and Percy walk into the Hospital Wing briskly, making sure to lower their voices as they approach the curtained off section of the wing. Professor McGonagall, being on watch for the minute, nods at them. 

She stands, gently pulling back the curtain to reveal a sickly Dove, pale and thin. The curse's effects had finally stopped, but she is still recovering from the pain. She has yet to wake up. Beside her, fast asleep clutching her hand is Draco Malfoy. The Minister for Magic and Percy step closer, waking the young boy effectively.

"Hello," he greets, sounding tired yet wary. 

"Draco Malfoy, is it?" The Minister asks, sitting across the bed. Draco nods sharply, turning his attention back to Dove. "How long have the two of you been together?" 

"A few months," he mutters. "But I've loved her for six years." 

"I'm sure you remember when Cedric Diggory died, yes?" 

He nods, "I do. I was the one who watched over her after it happened." 

"How's she doing now after that?"

Draco sighs, "She has good days and bad days." He can't summon any haughtiness. He doesn't want too. He knows he needs to answer every question the Minister asks him. He would tell that man anything in the world if it meant Dove would be okay. "She misses him a lot."

Rufus nods, "I can imagine. Can you walk me through the day this happened?"

"I met Dove in front of her Common Room at around seven in the morning. We went to the library and talked and read for an hour. We went to breakfast and got our schedules. Professor Slughorn irritated her a bit, but she was okay."

Percy cuts in, "Irritated her?"

"Dove doesn't like Professor Slughorn," the blond admits. "He's the reason her parents broke up while in school. They got back together, but they don't like him. What she doesn't like the most is his Slug Club. She doesn't like favoritism."

"He wanted her to join?" Rufus clarifies.

"Oh, yeah," Draco says, nodding a bit. 

"He implied she only does things that her boyfriend does," Professor McGonagall jumps in, "I stopped him after that."

"Okay," Percy sighs, scrawling it down. "What happened after breakfast?" 

"We went to Defense Against the Dark Arts. That's the only class Dove has on Mondays. After that, we went to the library again and went outside. Lunch was fine. We sat at her table and ate with our friends. After lunch, I had to leave her because I had Potions."

"Where did she go?" Rufus asks.

"I'm not sure," the blond Slytherin admits. "Probably the library. It's her favorite place." 

"Why wouldn't she hang out with her friends?" Percy inquires.

"Hannah and Susan are both in Potions with me, and I heard Ernie was helping Professor Sprout. Neville was also with Professor Sprout, and Megan was in the kitchens with the House Elves like usual," Draco explains readily. Everyone gives him an odd look. "I've been investigating some myself."

"Okay," the Minister says, nodding slightly. "I'm assuming the next time you saw her was dinner, correct?"

"Yes," he agrees. "I had to eat at my table, but once we were done, we went to the library as usual. We were talking and having a good time, but then Harry Potter showed up."

"Why?" Percy asks.

"Professor Slughorn had sent him to get the two of us, but mainly Dove." 

"Really?" Professor McGonagall scoffs a bit. "I told him not to bother her."

"He was quite rude to her," Draco utters, anger curdling in him. "He said she wasn't who he thought she was. She was hurt and let her emotions speak. I thought it was brilliant, but Professor Slughorn deducted points and gave her a detention that she was supposed to have the next day."

"What happened after that?" The Minister mutters, writing it all down himself.

"Harry left Dove and I alone, and we went on a walk around the school to help her cool off. I left her in the library around eight so I could get my tasks from Professor Snape since I'm a Prefect."

"Do you know what happened next?"

"Yes. At about ten, I went back to the library to walk her back to her House. I said goodnight and didn't see her until the next day. We had a normal day until that night when, again, I dropped her off at the library to perform my Prefect duties." 

"Do you know what--" 

Draco interrupts him, blood already boiling, "Yes. Harry Potter," he practically spits, "Decided it was a good idea to go confront my girlfriend about her change."

"Change?" Percy asks skeptically.

"She's a lot more outgoing and honest than she used to be. He said some things about her and I that he shouldn't have, and she left him. She doesn't like anyone to see her upset or hurt, so she went to walk around the castle." He pauses, "The rest I don't know for certain, but this is what I was told. She went to the third floor and saw someone that needed help. She was running to get help when she got hit by the curse. I wasn't told until the next morning, though." 

"Thank you," Rufus says. "Minerva, if I could ask you to step outside with us for a moment?"

Professor McGonagall stands, "Certainly."

The two Ministry officials and the professor exit the Hospital Wing, beginning a discussion of who at Hogwarts could have cursed the sixth-year Hufflepuff.

Dove's hand twitches in Draco's. He gasps, sitting straight up. 

"Dove?" He asks in a hushed voice. 

Consciousness begins to return to her, whispers of pain flowing throughout her body. She parts her lips, letting a sigh escape them. Blinking, she opens her eyes a bit. The first thing she sees is Draco.

"Hi," she greets hoarsely. "Are you okay?"

"Am I okay?" He tries, his voice cracking painfully as he leans down and kisses her gently, hugging her tightly to him. "Are you okay, my love?" 

"I hurt a little bit," she whispers. "What... what happened?"

"You don't remember?" Draco quickly explains it. "Baby, they got to you. Your parents are thinking of taking you out of the school."

"What? No," she protests, voice weak. "I'm staying."

"Let's not worry about this yet," he says calmly, "I just want to hold you."

He crawls into the bed, wrapping his arms around her. She puts her shaking hands on top of his, letting his warmth lull her into a comforting sleep.