Draco’s eyes flickered open to a bright and beautiful room. He sat up and looked around, smiling. Draco got out of his bed and stood in the middle of his room. On the right side of him were bookshelves full of some of his most favorite books. As his gaze on the room moved behind him, he spotted his eagle owl, Egal... meaning care. Draco walked towards her and gently stroked her feathers. She nipped his finger and flew out of the open window in front of Draco. Draco turned back around and stared into the fire burning near the bookshelves, the wondrous flames dancing around without a care in the world.
Draco smiled then turned to face his oak wood door. The door was wide open, so Draco could see the stone wall of the hallway outside his room. He took a few small steps on the cold wood floor before he reached the door frame. As Draco stepped out onto the cold limestone flooring in the hall way, a warm breeze whipped across his face, blowing his already messy hair. Draco walked down the hallway in silence as he passed pictures of his family, present and past. Here and there a picture would say hi and bow to the young Malfoy, but normally they stayed quiet.
Draco reached the main staircase and stopped. Standing at the bottom was his mother, dressed in a gorgeous gown, smiling up at him. Draco smiled back then took his first step down the staircase... with each step he took he seemed to feel younger. His mother, still smiling, held out her hands for him as he reached the bottom step. She pulled him into a great hug then escorted him to the great oak wood doors to the Malfoy Manor. She reached for the doorknob... in what, to Draco, seemed slower than usual. Draco looked at his mother again before stepping out into the warm sunlight.
He heard the doors shut behind him, but paid no attention. He stood on the front landing, taking in the surroundings, breathing in the fresh air, and relaxing in the cool summer breeze. Draco closed his eyes and took off on his journey. Every now and then he’d pick up a stone and throw into the creek running the length on the driveway. All around him were trees and ponds.
Draco stopped and kneeled down in front of the creek. He stared at his reflection and then ran his hand through it, before looking up and staring into the garden, which his mum spent much time in. It was her place. No matter how bad he felt, he could go there and bask in the beauty and it would always make him feel better.
Draco got back onto his feet and headed down the driveway again, the front gates of the manor visible from his standing point and the house of his friend smaller in the distance. Draco’s mind was racing as he past by the fountain of an angel. He loved that fountain, but it did sometimes bug him... the fountain was like nothing else in the garden. Everything fit the pattern of the manor but that fountain.
Draco looked ahead and nodded to the gate guard to open the gates. The young man by the stone wall pulled the lever and the gates slowly opened.
"Good day, young Master Malfoy?" asked the guard as Draco walked out.
Draco nodded and left the courtyard driveway. He made his way down the empty country road, staring at the lines of trees acting like a fence down the road. It was quite beautiful there. As Draco made his way further down the gravel road his friend's house came into a better view. He walked along the trees for a short while longer before he was standing in front of the gate to the Laidle Manor.
He pressed the button and the gate slowly opened for him. The Laidle Manor was smaller then the Malfoy’s, but in Draco’s opinion, much more beautiful. All up the drive were rose bushes and lights. And in the middle of the courtyard was a fountain, like similar to that of the Malfoys, but instead of an angel it was the Laidle Family. Draco stepped on to the drive and bid a good day to the gate guard. He made his way up the drive into the courtyard and walked through the garden. The garden path was lined with lilies and petunias. To his left was a pond and some stones. Draco made his way up the garden path to the back door to the Laidle Manor. He knocked and then looked down at his feet. He stood there, on that back landing for a minute before the door knob turned and the door opened. Draco’s eyes grew big and his mouth fell open, standing before him was his friend, but not as he remembered. She was...rotting. Draco started feeling light headed and...
"Draco!!" The young girl pulled the blonde boy into a great hug and kissed his cheek. "Tomorrow we are going to school and I will be with you forever!" The young Draco blushed and hugged her back.
...fell...
"Cree?"
"Yeah?"
"We have been into this store already and my father is waiting."
"Draco I know we’ve been in here before, but I wanted to get another book."
"Cree you have everything you need."
"I want this book... you can go get your Hogwarts robes... I already have mine."
Draco nodded and left the strawberry blonde girl looking for her book.
...forward...
Draco grabbed the blonde girl’s hand lead her to the limo. She smiled and followed him to the car. His father was already sitting there with his mother when they reached the door. Draco let Cree in first, then sat down next to her.
...onto...
"Draco?"
The boy turned to her.
"I want to go swimming." she said.
"Cree, I don’t know if you should... I mean, your father will be picking you up soon."
"Draco, please? You don’t have to go with me, I just want to." She made a puppy dog face and Draco nodded.
Cree made her way to the lake as Draco walked over to a tree to sit down...
...the...
Draco just nearly sat down when he heard a high pitch scream from behind him...
....wood...
Draco whirled around, but Cree was nowhere in sight... she was gone
...floor...
Draco was now lying on the wood flooring staring at Cree’s skinless feet. It made him want to be sick. He turned away from her, but could still smell the rotting flesh. He clasped his hand over his mouth as he felt himself sink through the floor. He was now lying on something wet and cold.
Draco’s eyes jolted open and he sat up. He looked down and found himself covered in cold sweat. He went to lay back down when the Hospital Wing doors flew open and two people walked in carrying something.
"Madam Pomfrey!!" He heard one of them call. The medi-witch walked out of her room.
"What happened?"
Draco squinted to see who they were and his eyes fell on a shaking Hermione. Her eyes were rolled back into her head and she was shaking uncontrollably. Draco looked at the other two figures that walked in with her and saw a worried Ron and a scared Harry.
"We were talking, and she was staring into the fire like she was in some sort of dream state. We were just about to go to bed when she started muttering things. When Ron and I sat down next to her again she started shaking and fell off the couch. She’s been doing this ever since." Draco heard Harry say to the medi-witch.
"Put her over there." she replied.
Harry picked her up again and struggled to get her onto the bed next to Draco’s. Harry looked at Draco and their eyes met for the slightest second before Harry turned away.
Draco leaned back on the bed and listened to the three other people talk. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Hermione's being there was his own fault.