A Christmas Wish - Part Twenty-Four
Dec. 20th, 2013 10:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alisanneTitle: A Christmas Wish - Part Twenty-Four
Author:alisanne
Prompt used:![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
slythindor100/![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
slythindor100's 2013 Christmas prompt #20: Icicles in trees.
Word Count: 680
Rating: PG
Warning: EWE, AU.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's Notes: Thanks tosevfan and emynn for the beta. This is part twenty-four in my Christmas Wish Series.
Previous parts are: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-One, Twenty-Two, and Twenty-Three.
~
A Christmas Wish - Part Twenty-Four
~
Draco regained consciousness slowly and it took him a moment to recall what had happened. He lay still for a moment, his head throbbing, and when he didn’t hear anything, he cautiously opened one eye.
He was on a rock slab in what looked like a cell, stone walls surrounding him, except for one window through which he could see trees with icicles hanging from their boughs. Under different circumstances Draco might even have thought the sight beautiful, but as it was it just made him shiver.
Hearing footsteps approach from a distance, Draco closed his eyes again and feigned sleep. His body warmed as he heard voices. “...still unconscious. Maybe you hexed him too hard--”
“Oh please. I barely hit him with that spell.”
Chang huffed. “Well his magic’s probably still low. If you damaged him, it’ll make it harder to extract the rest of it.”
Draco barely managed to not flinch.
“I didn’t think you wanted to drain him completely. Wouldn’t that kill him?”
Chang sighed. “That’s unlikely. Although if I can extract all his magic maybe it would prevent him being able to tattle on us again. You saw who he was with! If Harry Potter starts investigating--”
“Why would draining him stop Potter from investigating?”
“Because if Malfoy has no magic, he’s no better than a Squib,” Chang said. “And once that happens I bet even Harry will lose interest.”
Will he? Draco thought, going cold. It would make sense. After all, why would he bother with someone he can’t even share magic with?
“I suppose. I just have to be sure no one saw me Apparate us all out of the Minister’s mansion. We don’t want any questions, after all.”
Chang hummed. “Relax, who would say anything to you? You’re on the Minister’s personal staff, Zacharias.”
Draco wracked his brain. The name was familiar... Smith. I remember him now. Draco risked taking a quick look. Fortunately, Chang and Smith had their backs turned.
“Percy Weasley would notice.” Smith shook his head. “That man watches me like a hawk. Ever since your discovery that we could siphon off other people’s magic to boost our own, he’s been suspicious at how fast I’ve been advancing.”
“He’s just jealous.” Chang drew her wand. “And why wouldn’t he be? You’re on the fast track at the Ministry.”
“Not since we stopped being able to drain those doing community service,” Smith growled. “Malfoy was the last Death Eater we had access to, and ever since his sentence ended, my magic levels have started dwindling.”
“Which is why you need more.” Chang drew her wand. “We both do. You’ll never get through the next phase of training without it, and I’m already falling behind in Healer training.”
“You’re right.” Something buzzed and Smith pulled out a pocket watch. “Damn, I have to return to the reception, Shacklebolt’s about to give his speech. Don’t do anything until I return, all right?”
“Very well.”
Draco snapped his eyes shut as Smith turned and walked past him to leave.
I have to get out of here, he thought as he heard Chang moving about. If only I had enough magic--
“Merlin, it’s freezing in here,” muttered Chang. “I’m waiting for him upstairs.”
As her footsteps moved away, Draco frowned. I’m warm. If she’s cold and I’m warm, then I must be doing it--
Cautiously, not daring to hope, Draco waited until he was sure he was alone before concentrating. He’d never cast a Patronus before, but he knew the incantation. No wand, and I’ve no idea if this will work, but what other choice do I have? Hands clenched into fists he thought about skating with Potter the night before and, after sending up one last prayer, said, “Expecto Patronum--”
~
Author:
alisannePrompt used:
slythindor100/slythindor100's 2013 Christmas prompt #20: Icicles in trees.Word Count: 680
Rating: PG
Warning: EWE, AU.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's Notes: Thanks to
sevfan and emynn for the beta. This is part twenty-four in my Christmas Wish Series. Previous parts are: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-One, Twenty-Two, and Twenty-Three.
~
A Christmas Wish - Part Twenty-Four
~
Draco regained consciousness slowly and it took him a moment to recall what had happened. He lay still for a moment, his head throbbing, and when he didn’t hear anything, he cautiously opened one eye.
He was on a rock slab in what looked like a cell, stone walls surrounding him, except for one window through which he could see trees with icicles hanging from their boughs. Under different circumstances Draco might even have thought the sight beautiful, but as it was it just made him shiver.
Hearing footsteps approach from a distance, Draco closed his eyes again and feigned sleep. His body warmed as he heard voices. “...still unconscious. Maybe you hexed him too hard--”
“Oh please. I barely hit him with that spell.”
Chang huffed. “Well his magic’s probably still low. If you damaged him, it’ll make it harder to extract the rest of it.”
Draco barely managed to not flinch.
“I didn’t think you wanted to drain him completely. Wouldn’t that kill him?”
Chang sighed. “That’s unlikely. Although if I can extract all his magic maybe it would prevent him being able to tattle on us again. You saw who he was with! If Harry Potter starts investigating--”
“Why would draining him stop Potter from investigating?”
“Because if Malfoy has no magic, he’s no better than a Squib,” Chang said. “And once that happens I bet even Harry will lose interest.”
Will he? Draco thought, going cold. It would make sense. After all, why would he bother with someone he can’t even share magic with?
“I suppose. I just have to be sure no one saw me Apparate us all out of the Minister’s mansion. We don’t want any questions, after all.”
Chang hummed. “Relax, who would say anything to you? You’re on the Minister’s personal staff, Zacharias.”
Draco wracked his brain. The name was familiar... Smith. I remember him now. Draco risked taking a quick look. Fortunately, Chang and Smith had their backs turned.
“Percy Weasley would notice.” Smith shook his head. “That man watches me like a hawk. Ever since your discovery that we could siphon off other people’s magic to boost our own, he’s been suspicious at how fast I’ve been advancing.”
“He’s just jealous.” Chang drew her wand. “And why wouldn’t he be? You’re on the fast track at the Ministry.”
“Not since we stopped being able to drain those doing community service,” Smith growled. “Malfoy was the last Death Eater we had access to, and ever since his sentence ended, my magic levels have started dwindling.”
“Which is why you need more.” Chang drew her wand. “We both do. You’ll never get through the next phase of training without it, and I’m already falling behind in Healer training.”
“You’re right.” Something buzzed and Smith pulled out a pocket watch. “Damn, I have to return to the reception, Shacklebolt’s about to give his speech. Don’t do anything until I return, all right?”
“Very well.”
Draco snapped his eyes shut as Smith turned and walked past him to leave.
I have to get out of here, he thought as he heard Chang moving about. If only I had enough magic--
“Merlin, it’s freezing in here,” muttered Chang. “I’m waiting for him upstairs.”
As her footsteps moved away, Draco frowned. I’m warm. If she’s cold and I’m warm, then I must be doing it--
Cautiously, not daring to hope, Draco waited until he was sure he was alone before concentrating. He’d never cast a Patronus before, but he knew the incantation. No wand, and I’ve no idea if this will work, but what other choice do I have? Hands clenched into fists he thought about skating with Potter the night before and, after sending up one last prayer, said, “Expecto Patronum--”
~
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Date: 2013-12-21 04:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-12-27 11:41 pm (UTC):)