The Siren's Call (A Draco Malfoy Fanfiction)

116. Coping in its Many Forms

Students across Hogwarts were packing their trunks the day before the end of term when Dioleh was finally released from the Hospital Wing. Before she had taken two steps out the door, a familiar voice said, "Professor Dumbledore wishes you to speak with him." Dioleh came to a stop, glancing over at Snape.

"Yeah, okay," she replied tonelessly.

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Draco stormed down the hall, irritation bitting at every thought that crossed his mind as he went up the staircase leading from the Slytherin Common Room. Despite how much he tried, he couldn't help the sharp anger coursing through his heart. Just as he passed through a doorway, he stumbled to a stop, his gaze fixed on Harry who had just come from the direction of the Hospital Wing. Harry also froze, staring at the other boy as though trying to determine what exactly his feelings toward him were.

Harry opened his mouth to speak but before a word could come out, Draco snapped, "Don't even think about it, Potter." He spat out the word as though it were poison.

"I'm sorry, Draco," Harry said, shocked as he realized he actually meant it.

"I told you, don't!" Draco shouted. He turned away from Harry, trying to keep his anger in check as he ran his hands through his hair. There was a long, awkward silence as Draco and Harry both debated with themselves about whether or not to speak and if so, what to say.

Finally, Harry said, "I really am sorry."

"If you really were so sorry, you wouldn't have landed my father is Azkaban!" Draco retorted, turning back around. His face was flushed with anger and Harry saw the vein near Draco's temple bulging as Uncle Vernon's did when he was particularly distressed.

"He almost killed, Dioleh," Harry countered. "What did you want me to do?"

"You have no idea what you've done!" Draco shouted. "What you have just started!"

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked with a frown.

"Nothing," Draco snapped furiously. "You could never understand. See you around, Potter." Casting him one last glare, Draco departed with Harry staring after him. Rushing into the first lavatory he saw, Draco shut himself in one of the stalls as he tried in some way to calm the anger that refused to leave. With a cry, he weakly banged his fists against the wall before breaking down in tears.

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Dioleh's face remained expressionless as she sat down across from Dumbledore, fixing her gaze on her intertwined fingers in her lap instead of at the man in front of her. In a hushed voice, Dumbledore said, "Harry informed me you believe Lucius Malfoy discovered what you are."

"Believe?" Dioleh scoffed weakly. "I know he knows. He told me while he was choking me against a wall." Dumbledore sighed, his gaze briefly flickering to the large bruise around her neck.

"What all did he say to you?" Dumbledore inquired.

"He believes I've enchanted and lied to Draco," Dioleh explained quietly. "He was angry with me because in his eyes I've endangered his son."

"And did Lucius have any opportunity to convey this information to anyone else?" Dumbledore asked severely.

"I don't think so," Dioleh admitted. "The only time there could have been was while most everyone was in the room with the arch. I don't think there was any time."

"Very well then," Dumbledore said. Dioleh could swear there was relief in his tone. "Now, onto more important matters. How are you feeling?"

"My ribs are no longer broken," Dioleh said. "My nose is fixed. So, I'm feeling good for the most part. Just waiting for the bruising to go away."

"I was talking more about your mental state," Dumbledore admitted. Dioleh shrugged. "Forgive me, but you seem a bit...emotionally checked out."

"What do you want me to say?" Dioleh asked with a weary sigh. "I was attacked by my boyfriend's father...who is now in jail, and despite the fact that I want to be able to support and comfort Draco, I can't because I can't lie to him and say that everything will be okay because I don't believe it will. And I don't know what to do because my parents died. They didn't get locked up. I don't know how to help him and I don't have the emotional or mental capacity to be there for him even if he was allowing me to. And beyond just what's going on five feet around me, there is also suddenly a war not just going on in the shadows but now in the open and my sister and her closest friends who are now also mine are on the front lines. What the hell do you want me to say, Professor?"

Dumbledore remained silent. Getting to her feet, Dioleh asked sharply, "Is that all?"

"Yes, you are dismissed," Dumbledore said. Dioleh nodded and quickly left his office. The moment she was in the hallway, Dioleh broke into a run. Down in the hideout, she found Imani and Andre floating in the water with their eyes closed. Imani briefly glanced up as she entered but no one felt much like speaking. Laying back in the water, Dioleh drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes, wishing, hoping, dreaming that perhaps when she opened them again, the monstrosity of the past week would be nothing more than a horrible dream for her to recall in light tones during breakfast the next morning.