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Author: guruvee Story: A Wish Fulfilled Rating: Teens Setting: AU Status: Completed Reviews: 6 Words: 22,529
As expected, Arthur's research into registered Animagi did not turn up anything that Hermione hadn't already guessed. No new Animagi registered recently, and that could only mean one thing … there was one more unregistered Animagus running around. Actually, Hermione hadn't really said with certainty that Malfoy was an Animagus, although her tone boasted a confidence that was very common to a "Hermione-has-the-right-answer" situation. They would find a way to confirm it. * * * Draco was starving, and his flat seemed to be closing in on him. He hadn't had much of an appetite for days, but knowing that Potter was back in England, he was getting hungry. Hungry for food, and hungry for a resolution to his burning desire for revenge. He had no way – without going to the Burrow – of knowing what was going on with Potter, except what he read in the papers. Potter was back in England, and speculation was that he and the new Mrs. Potter were hoping to settle somewhere close to London – perhaps even in Diagon Alley. The big trick would be heading back to the Burrow without being seen, to get more information. There was no way to know if the charms that were put in place for the wedding were still there. It was too bad that Crabbe and Goyle had not survived the war as well as they should have. They were pure-bloods, after all. How could they have let themselves be permanently cursed? Draco shook his head thinking about it. His flunkies, while not the brightest, were always willing to do what was asked. Yet, they were never much for ideas. Wishing he had someone to bounce his thoughts off brought Pansy Parkinson to mind. At school she had clung to him quite a bit more than he really desired, but she was always good for a bit of physical comfort. And her ideas usually had merit. But he had burned that bridge during the war. Surely, she wouldn't want to hear from him now. He had treated her pretty thoughtlessly, he knew, but she was just a silly girl; he didn't have time for meaningless relationships during the war. She should have known that. He left his flat and headed for Diagon Alley. He got to the Leaky Cauldron, and decided to sit in the corner and think about how he would get back to the Burrow. As a ferret, it would take some time to get there. But could he risk Apparating to Ottery St. Catchpole and then transfiguring? Old Tom, the barkeep, brought him a Butterbeer and offered him a table in the middle of the room, but Draco pointed to the dark corner, wanting to avoid notice as much as possible. It sickened Draco to know that Harry Potter was the last person to see his father alive. How he would exact his revenge, he really had no idea. Crabbe and Goyle were in St. Mungo's permanent spell-damage ward and would not be able to help him once he had formulated a plan. Maybe Pansy … but no. She had gone out of her way to avoid Draco since he left school. The way he had treated her was necessary at the time and he knew that. But would she understand? Could he ever make her see that it had been the only way? * * * "Draco, I have tried to understand." "Pansy, there is nothing you can do to help. I need to do this alone." "But why? Why can't you let me try to help?" "You wouldn't understand. Besides, I don't want or need anyone's help." * * * "DRACO! The Dark Lord will never leave you alone. If Harry Potter succeeds, it is your only chance of living!" "I don't know how to tell you this, Pansy, but I don't care. There is no one worth living for, anyway." Pansy's face had turned red, and tears started to fill her eyes. "No, not even you Pansy. All that matters is that my father and mother are dead, and it's all Potter's fault." "But Draco –" "No Pansy. I have no need of you. Just go. Leave me alone." * * * Harry and Ginny were discussing how to spend the day. They couldn't really protect themselves against Malfoy when they didn't have the faintest clue what to expect, but they could easily find a way to spend some time together. They strolled up the hill to their favorite tree; Harry conjured a soft picnic blanket, and the two of them lay down side by side to watch the clouds pass the sun. Ginny turned to look at Harry, and he knew that she'd be able to see that look in his eye that said he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He hated to make her sad like this; she always knew how he was feeling and, though they had never been able to explain it, what one felt, the other felt. In some ways, it was as if they were twins. "Harry, Draco can't hurt you here." Not exactly ignoring her words, Harry pondered other things. "Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live a blissfully ignorant existence? I mean, if your family had never told us about Draco, we would have continued our honeymoon here at the Burrow until we had a place of our own. We wouldn't be worrying about Draco and we'd be able to think about having a family of our own." "Harry, you know that's not possible. You've never had the luxury of blissful ignorance. For the few years of your life that you were ignorant, we all know it wasn't blissful. Since then, you've never been ignorant. Draco can never take what we share away from us." "I know that. But he might try to take you away from me. Or me away from you." "But we're in this together, Harry. Together, Draco can never defeat us." "But—" "But nothing. You defeated Voldemort. Draco would need to have a fairly puffed-up opinion of himself to think he could take you down." Harry looked at his new wife, adoration clearly showing in his eyes. She was beautiful when she was angry. That fire of fury was probably one of the things that attracted him to her in the first place … the fact that she could stand up for herself without any help from anyone else. After all, Harry thought, she may be the only Weasley girl, but she also never felt fear. "Let's not think about Draco just now." Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny, and leaned down to kiss her. With the beautiful sunset, and his wife in his arms, there was no way Harry could deny the happiness that filled him. * * * As Draco watched the patrons of the Leaky Cauldron come and go, he couldn't help but notice how happy everyone looked. No one seemed to have a care in the world. He knew it was because the Dark Lord was gone. One more thing he could blame on Potter. He watched as Blaise Zabini escorted Daphne Greengrass into the Cauldron. They were a good pure-blood couple. But they, too, seemed happy. Did no one feel loss at the defeat of Lord Voldemort? Did no one care that the pure-bloods lost the war? The more he observed, the more he needed someone to talk to. Perhaps he should swallow his pride and contact Pansy. He paid Tom, and walked through the back door, out through the archway into Diagon Alley. Once there, he found himself spinning and, with a pop, Disapparated. Spinning into view, Draco found himself outside the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade. He felt like he was walking in a daze, with random images invading his mind. First Pansy, then Potter. Then his father and mother, then the Dark Lord. Then back to Pansy. He found himself outside Scrivenshaft's, not really knowing what his plan was. Apparently, entering the shop and purchasing some parchment, a quill and some ink was the right thing to do. Walking out of the shop with his purchases, he headed up the street to the Three Broomsticks. Madam Rosmerta recognized him from his school years, and greeted him kindly, although she did keep a watchful eye on him. Draco sipped his Butterbeer, and began to think. How should he begin? What did he want to say to Pansy? Well, it was obvious that he wanted to talk to her. He should definitely let her know that. "What else?" he thought. Perhaps he should explain his actions during the war? "No. She should know. I should not have to explain myself to anyone!" And yet … Pansy might not receive his attempts to contact her if she didn't have an explanation. And really, Pansy as a sounding board was what he needed. Maybe for this … maybe to just get her to listen …
Draco rolled up the parchment, and sealed it. He sat finishing his drink, and watched the patrons come and go. He didn't recognize anyone, and hoped he wouldn't see anyone from Hogwarts. He finished his drink and headed for the Post Office. As he left the pub, head down, he bumped into someone, but did not turn to see who it was, nor to apologize. Leaving the Post Office, Draco shuddered. He had never been this unsure about something he'd done; not even about trying to kill Dumbledore. It was a good thing the message was sent or he might have changed his mind. He felt very uncomfortable about the power he'd just handed over to Pansy – he didn't know what he'd do if she refused to see him.
A/N: I'm so sorry for the delay in Chapter 4. I have been extremely busy, but my beta has been extremely patient. Thanks for all the hard work, Ladybug, and dear readers, we'll have the next chapter out in less than a month this time. I promise.
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