Nothing Gold Can Stay | Chapter Eight
"Did we really live through all of that?" Hermione asked balled up in a corner of the sofa. It was four in the morning and besides her there was Harry, Zabini, and Ginny who were all wide awake. This time there was no denying what had happened, the unnerving feeling of being connected to somebody and not knowing why. The first time they experienced this…sensation it was when they ran into each other on their way to Hogsmeade. Before, the feeling of being connected was easier to shake off; and shake it off they did. This time they knew it would be impossible.
"Why are we seeing these things now?" Hermione asked. She could feel her nerves slipping. Why was this happening? She wanted the answers but things were so complicated. What were the questions she needed to ask to get the right answers? It was as if everything she ever believed and stood for was being challenged. Hermione felt someone grasp her hand, and loosened as she felt a clam warming feelings. She turned her head slightly and smiled at Harry. Everything was forgotten as she looked at him. For the first time in her life, she didn't have questions and needed no answers. In that moment everything was perfect.
So this is what it feels like. She thought.
*
They seemed so happy! When was she ever going to find someone to love like that again? The dream might've brought Harry and Hermione together, FINALLY, but all it did was further prove how alone she was. As a child she had a theory that death was wrong not because it took away a person's life but it took away a person's soul mate. Was that what happened to hers? Was he dead by some muggle robbery? Tortured to death by death eaters? Where was he?!
Only a year ago she would've thought she was in love with Draco Malfoy. How could she not when he was everything she thought he wouldn't be? The rude obnoxious git from Slytherin turned out to be the kind but sarcastic prince from her dreams.
Or so she thought.
That was when she got it, it being the anonymous package mailed to her flat. Suddenly her world shattered and any image she had of them living together happily married with two and a half kids changed into a nightmare of the man she still loved killing innocent children because they didn't use the proper fork during dinner.
It slowly became harder to be around him. The vulnerability and fear she felt towards him made her distant and her love for him made her inconsistent. He once commented that she never smiled around him; even mentioned that he'd leave for a while. She declined because, at least she told herself, she'd lose the case. Internally she admitted it was love for him that insisted she just wanted to be near him. A part of her died when she brought him into the Ministry and tell him it was all an elaborate ruse. To watch him crumble was one of the hardest things she'd ever done. He had no friends, the way he mentioned it, having no one to depend on was the norm.
"If life was measured by friends," He said once in passing, "I'd have nothing to measure."
A part of him died that day too his ability to trust. Ginny could never forgive herself.
"We're going to the East Wing." Zabini decided, "Now."
*
Jordan, was considered a muggle. As a child she never showed any signs of magic and never received an invitation to any Wizarding school. Her magic, those who theorized about such rare cases such as hers, were results of extremely long exposes to stress. Jordan was sure her parents attempting to kill her counted as severe cases of stress. A child begot by two pure bloods she was considered a waste, a squib. Her mother because of a complication during Jordan's birth could not have any other children. Jordan's parents' frustration and embarrassment only grew over the years and made them farther apart. During her early teen years Jordan learned the joys of experimentation carrying from drugs to sex to plain disobedience. Testing her limits by dying her hair blue, wearing unorthodox clothes, purposely coming home after dinner, things were coming to a head. One night it all came to a head. After failing all her courses, reported to have been kissing some muggle and embarrassing her parents in front of their friends her parents finally had enough.
Her mother always had a strong temper and excess pride. After the stunt her daughter pulled, wearing muggle clothing in front traditional wizards, went into her daughter's bedroom that night to shake some sense into her. Literally. Evidently being awoken to her mother's hands around her neck was not a pleasant way to wake up. Jordan felt this power, an overwhelming feeling in the back of her brain well up. and was shocked as her mother slumped to the ground shaking and screaming. Hearing his wife, her father rushed to the room, the look in his eyes promising murder, she did it again. Her father fell forward on his face, his body jerking on the floor. Later, after much testing, it was assumed that they both went crazy leaving Jordan both money and more importantly, freedom.
That was when Kaida Drake appeared claiming to posses the ability to help her. The rest was history. Two years later, Jordan was rumored to be the best mental witch in North America, her abilities put to cause.
*
It was maybe a little after two thirty in the morning when she heard a car pull up and the front door open. Jordan pulled the hood to cover her now red hair, her green eyes and fair skin shadowed; making it easier to answer the questions Kaida would ask.
"Sorry I'm late Jordan." Kaida, said rushing into the room, eyes wild. Jordan observed the woman who showed her more compassion than her parents ever did. Something was off but she knew better than to question Kaida about her feelings.
"Things okay?" Kaida asked taking a long drag of a wizard cigarette.
Jordan said nothing but instead reached for her mirror. She commented, "You cut your hair."
Kaida touched her head, "I needed a change."
Jordan nodded, "I sent them a stronger dream earlier."
"Really?" Kaida sat up interested, "Did it work out?"
The dry response, "That is what I am checking for now."
Kaida sighed knowing she was going to have to wait a while. It, surprisingly took only one hour to focus her mind on their thoughts, "You might want to go home."
Kaida laughed, "Why? The git may be on a cooking kick but he won't burn anything."
"The git, as you called him, is about to discovered."
The color drained from Kaida's face as she dashed off. Jordan started to warn her but Kaida was already running to the apparating port.
*
Draco was enjoying his night. The sky was clear and the stars were bright. The trees gave the moonlight a beautiful edge. It was amazing, how much freedom a person experienced, on their own and with no responsibilities. He was in a good mood, so when he heard footsteps, assuming it was Kaida, he took out an extra plate. It was the first meal he'd ever created without burning something and grinned at the pride he felt. His perfect night was ruined when he turned to see Harry, Hermione, Blaise, and Ginny, their wands pointed at him.
"Hello." Malfoy said as evenly as possible, "How are you?"
*~*~*
They couldn't open the barrier! Kaida ran though the forest outside the house, cursing herself for putting the apparition point so far from the house. When she finally reached the edge of the forest, to her dismay, she could see the house without casting the `see all' spell on herself.
They broke through the barrier! If still in their ignorant state, alone with Draco's smart mouth, they might kill him.
That just couldn't happen.
As she burst through the front door Kaida pushed away the thought of the other repercussions that would occur if they stayed in the house much longer. Pushing her tired legs to run up the stairs and inwardly groaned at the site she saw.
"Um Kaida," Draco called, "You might want to come up here."
Kaida closed her eyes momentarily before resigning herself to her fate. Seeing Harry and Hermione pointing their wands to her chest Kaida put her hands up, "I don't have my wand."
"Keep your hands up." Harry commanded, "And sit over there."
They made sure she wasn't anywhere near Draco. Not that it would matter, if they stayed here any longer.
"We have questions to ask you." Ginny started.
Annoyed Kaida shoot back, "I could only guess."
"What are you doing to us? Plaguing us with disturbing dreams, keeping us like relative prisoners in this house?" Hermione asked.
Kaida laid back glaring, "We need to leave this house."
"Answer her." Harry demanded.
Kaida rolled her eyes and crossed her arm, "You aren't ready. If you were you wouldn't have asked me the question you did."
"Ready for what?"
"None of you business." Kaida shoot back, "All we need to do is leave this house. I am not going to die for you idiots."
Ginny and Zabini had their wands pointed towards Draco. Neither one of them wanting to be doing so.
"Just tell them Kai." Draco shouted from the other side of the room.
"No one asked you moron!"
"Fine." Draco said, "Then I'll tell them."
"Shut up! We need to leave not swap stories!"
"Bite me." Draco shot back. Ignoring Kaida's huff he continued, "You are all reincarnations of spirits that were supposed to make an important decision. Events occurred and prevented you from making the decision, and you have to make it now."
"Huh?" Zabini asked stating the stupor of the room, Draco and Kaida excluded.
"You can forget all of that, since you will die," Kaida said suddenly, "if we don't leave!"
"Are you going to kill us?" Harry asked, "You are harboring a known felon."
Kaida laughed, "It's amazing how dumb you are." Clearly irritated she added as she turned her cold gaze to Ginny, "Isn't it amazing how everything just landed in your lap when the case was just one week from being dismissed."
"It was luck," Harry said in defense, "Everyone knows that."
"Only children and fools believe in luck. You like the little children you are laughed when a load of shit fell in your lap."
"What are you trying to say?" Ginny asked.
"I am saying you played right into the hands of the people who are trying to kill you."
"You mean you?" Hermione asked, after finding Draco in the house, she couldn't find any reason to trust her.
"I by some misfortune," Kaida replied blandly, "Have been trying to keep you alive."
"Really?" Ginny asked, "Why not just tell us?"
"Two reasons but I am not going to waste time explaining. Can we leave?"
"Why do you want to leave so badly now?" Zabini asked.
"The barrier that you broke though not only protected you and kept the moron away from you, it also made the house invisible to people looking for you."
"So we broke though the barrier. What's the big deal?"
"Death eaters now know where we are."
"That's it?" Harry asked, "There can't be more than a hundred of them left around the world. We can take them."
"You can't fight these death eaters with magic."
"Why?"
"They are muggles, loser."
Before any of them could asked Kaida what she meant there was a loud explosion below them. Kaida stood up pulling the seat cushion up to reveal an arsenal of 9 mms guns.
"Here." She said tossing two 9mms to Draco. She slipped on two thigh holsters before loading them up with two standard guns. Picking up another she turned the clueless expressions of Harry, Hermione, Zabini, and a seething Ginny.
"I suggest we go." Kaida suggested.
"Why?" Ginny asked, "If they are Death Eaters we can take them."
Draco absently said, "We would be arrested and none of us would be able to protest."
"Why again?"
"Were you not listening?! They are muggles. It doesn't matter if they are trying to kill you."
"THEY'RE UPSTAIRS!!" They heard a voice yell.
"Think about it," Draco remarked, "A dozen or more muggles with military training intent on blowing our brains off. You four can't stop them."
The four looked at him processing the information.
"With that said. How about you move?" Kaida added sweetly, "Draco, darling, show them the exit?"
The blonde smiled, the wide grin sparking the immense fire of jealously from two other people in the room.
"No worries love." Draco answered.
A.N: If this sucks I am SO sorry. Sorry this took to damn long! I have an audition on the 15th and practice is really time consuming. I really don't expect anyone to review for this one, after they find Draco, this became very forced and is not my best work and for that I apologize. For those reading `Tease' you have at least a three week wait, and once again I apologize for this. Wish me luck; I hope you are patient with me.