Fate's Request: A Harry Potter FanFiction

Following the Yule Ball, not many students returned home for the Christmas break as there was so much going on at Hogwarts, but David was not one of them.

During the first half of the school year, he had no access to the resources available back at Cross Manor to work on deciphering the contents of Thief's Downfall. He'd stayed up to date on Mel's reports she'd given regarding the potion, for she continued to work on the Goblin made potion constantly, but David wanted to continue working on the potion himself as well.

Not to mention, with the slow progress of the Wizengamot in returning his family possessions and gold David sorely needed a distraction from the norm, so while everyone he knew stayed back at Hogwarts, he was sitting alone in the Hogwarts Express, racing back towards King's Cross station.

Making the best use of his time, David had a book on Giants opened in-front of himself, for he would need to brush up on his knowledge in dealing with them the very day he arrived back home at the end of the school year.

He would need to move quickly to arrive in Belarus before Madame Maxine, Hagrid and whichever Death Eaters Voldemort decided to send instead, thanks to David landing Walden Macnair in Azkaban, for now.

It was after his third book, or more accurately, tome on the subject of Giants that the Hogwarts Express finally pull in to the station, with David almost running out of the Platform to get to a safe spot for Mel to whisk him away.

---

Back at Cross Manor after a long day down in his Potions Lab, David was relaxing in front of a roaring fire, courtesy of Greenie and Mel, but he was interrupted from his comfortable solitude by Mel carrying a letter addressed to him from Cyrus Greengrass.

It was just another of many he'd received from Cyrus, David thought, with contents detailing the events of each Wizengamot session and the behind the scenes interactions he was having to deal with for various Ministry officials.

This letter, however, was a change from the norm of no real substantial news regarding progress, for Cyrus had spoken to the Minister himself recently, regarding their cause and matters finally seemed to be progressing, with the Ministry desperate in brokering a deal that didn't leave them destitute.

"Good news Master?" Mel asked eagerly, as she noticed David's usual look of aloofness change to one of curiosity as he read further into the letter.

Nodding, David quickly responded while still reading through, "Yes, it is. The Ministry's, well I should say, more so Fudge is desperate for a deal, Cyrus believes he could have closed one for the contents of the vault and measly sum of gold, but he believes he can lean on Fudge for more."

Seeing Mel apprehensions about not closing out a deal immediately, David smiled and added, "Mel, they did steal an absurd amount of gold from the Cross family, let Cyrus do his work without judgement and allow him to procure us more funds, we're going through the Basilisk money like crazy. Paying off foreign ministry's isn't cheap Mel."

Shaking her head, she replied, "Very well. Goodnight Master."

"Night Mel," David called out as he stared intently at the fire, thinking of events to come.

---

After a short trip back home, for the Yule Ball had eaten up quite a lot of his usual winter holiday time, David was soon back on the almost empty train to Hogwarts.

With a renewed vigour he stepped off of the train and onto to Hogsmeade Station, eager to get back to school life and his self-improvement work in the Room of Requirement.

Unbeknownst to David however, was Draco Malfoy who eyed him with disdain as he lurked behind a pillar, watching David make his way over to the carriages.

---

As David made his way into the Great Hall to join his fellow Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbaton students for lunch, David glimpsed Harry and Ginny seated near each other, chatting away cheerfully while Ron and Hermione were arguing about something per usual.

"David!" Sue yelled as she spotted him making his way over to the Ravenclaw table.

Her declaration of his name had gotten the attention of the some of the Beauxbaton students that were intertwined with the Ravenclaws and David found himself being stared intently at as he made his way over.

Conscious of the fact that quite a few people were staring, David awkwardly sat next to Sue and her friends and greeted them all warmly, holding in his question of why they were staring until they were safe back in Ravenclaw tower.

Luna, however, had other ideas, "They thought you looked quite smart in your outfit for the Yule Ball, David."

"Huh?" David blurted out suddenly.

"Do catch up David, you're meant to be the smartest student at Hogwarts. I'm talking about why so many of the Beauxbaton students are staring at you," she explained with a completely innocent smile.

Seeing and hearing Luna so outwardly explain why certain girls from Beauxbaton were staring at David like a piece of meat, many of them started cursing her under their breathe in French.

"Luna!" Sue hissed, hiding her mirth horribly.

Luna merely hummed in response and went back to picking at her food, not a care in the world.

"I'll explain later, David," Sue promised quietly as David was still a little out of the loop in regard to his newfound and very unwanted attention.

---

Back in Ravenclaw tower later that night, after David had gotten settled into his dorm room, he found himself huddled in a close circle with Sue Li, Padma Patil and Luna Lovegood.

"Well? Can one of you explain what was going on in the Great Hall?" David asked as he wrapped himself snuggly in a blanket.

"Uhh. Well… let's just say you impressed a lot of people with your suit for the Ball, David. If you didn't notice, all the other guys went in somewhat traditional dress robes, but you, David, went 'muggle' and…" Sue explained, tapering off towards the end of her explanation.

Padma snorted and filled in, "Almost everyone thought you looked amazing David, especially the Beauxbaton girls. I guess things aren't as rigged over in France regarding wizarding clothing. They were impressed and a little put out once they learned you were dating Granger," she finished with a teasing smirk.

"Ahh… Well I can't help it, I was raised without magic and I think wizarding robes… look a little ridiculous, to be honest…" David explained, wishing he hadn't drawn attention but also knew he would take every opportunity he could to not wear wizarding robes if he didn't have to.

"Good for you David, thinking like that is what allows you to keep the nargles away for so long, be true to yourself," Luna added, leaving everyone grinning, for they'd long gotten used to her and her beliefs in mysterious magical creatures.

---

David was surprised to find that there was another Hogsmeade weekend, not even a month into the first month of lessons starting back up again, but with so many guests at Hogwarts, the school decided to allow everyone to 'stretch' their legs more often than usual.

Jumping for the opportunity to have a date with Hermione, for while she acted quite m.a.t.u.r.e about it, she was a little put off by the attention David had been receiving recently and he wanted to make it up to her.

So, arm in arm, the couple went off to re-explore their favourite aspects of Hogsmeade, together.

---

David and Hermione were in a somewhat out of the way are of Hogsmeade as they sat cuddled together, sitting in comfortable silence away from the hustle and bustle of the busy Hogsmeade streets.

Turning and looking at David, Hermione felt the urge to kiss him on his cheek and did just that, but the couple were soon rudely interrupted by Draco and his goons, Crabbe and Goyle.

"Disgusting seeing two mudbloods kissing, isn't Crabbe, Goyle?" Draco said obnoxiously as he and appeared from behind a tree at the opportune moment.

Hearing them grunt in response, Draco continued as David drew his wand silently and quickly, with Hermione doing the same.

"One would think, that such… filthy things such as yourselves dating would be the natural order of things. But really, it's just wrong to see no matter who they're with," he said, explaing his racist rhetoric without remorse.

"Shut up Malfoy, or do I need to get Professor Moody to turn you into a ferret? I hear you make an excellent one," Hermione hissed in anger, hating the bigoted Slytherin boy even more so than usual.

"Shut your filthy mouth!" he screamed, still ashamed of being turned into an animal and embarrassed in front of his peers.

Seeing Malfoy start stomping his way over in fury, David briskly got up and pointed his wand at the platinum-haired boy, stopping him in his tracks immediately.

"I think that's enough, Malfoy," David said coldly, irritated by his pureblood mania and even more so by his mere presence.

Trying to draw his own wand in defence, clumsily, Draco was stopped by David, "I wouldn't draw that wand, Draco."

Looking up a little fearfully, he saw Hermione standing alongside David, with her wand also pointed at him.

Looking at his two henchmen, who were successfully subdued and unable to draw their own wands, Draco promised to give the both of them a stern talking to later.

"Really, Draco. For a 'pureblood' wizard, you really aren't much, are you? Can't even draw your own wand quickly enough," David taunted.

"Sh-shut up! Mudblood! Wait till my," He said in a panic, cowardly nature showing.

"Your father? No, your father won't be involved. No, you see, you're going to gather yourself Draco, and along with those two apes next to you, strut your inbred self-back to the castle and be a good little boy and not bother us any longer," David ordered, growing tired of this confrontation already.

Draco burned with fury for being insulted, conveniently forgetting he'd sought out this confrontation out of some twisted jealously from hearing his parent's speak of him and the Wizengamot case all Winter break long.

Eventually, he came to what he believed was the perfect subject to taunt back with, the Malediction his mother remembered reading about from her days as a Black. He didn't remember all the details, but he knew that some Cross ancestor had left a letter detailing the family dying to Malediction, something his parent's believed David must also have if he was truly of the Cross line.

"I-is that the best a walking corpse like you c-can come up with, eh?" he said, with no real conviction, for staring down two wands without his own in his hand was getting to him, but he soon realised he'd hit something when David's face flushed with anger at the mention of walking corpse and Hermione's in confusion.

~She must not know, I can use this ~

"S-surprised, are you? Well you should be, you see, we real purebloods have quite a lot of information at our disposal and we know all about your little Malediction, Cross. If you even are one," he snorted in disgust, growing in confidence once again as he saw David's face twist in anger.

"Shut up, Malfoy. Leave. Now," David ordered, real anger now in his face and tone, shown by the red sparks emitting from his wand.

A little cautious of the now dangerously sparkling wand, he replied "Yeah… Yeah, I'll leave. Just after I explain to the little mudblood, Granger their what we're talking about."

"LEAVE! NOW!" David shouted, almost at bursting point, this was not how he'd intended on telling Hermione he was sick. He'd planned on, somehow, mentioning it once he knew he had a cure, but Draco's mother must have an excellent memory if she remembered something of Aquila Cross from old Black records she couldn't even access anymore.

Laughing to hide his fear, for David's wand and aura were bursting with visible magic, Draco walked backwards slowly and shouted with twisted glee, "He's dying, Granger! From what my mother tells me, he probably only has a couple years left. Better enjoy your time together, eh?"

Finishing, he ran for it with his tail between his legs, Crabbe and Goyle failing to keep up.

Silence encompassed them for a good while as David didn't lower his wand from the position, he'd had it in as Draco fled.

Hermione, however, had long ago dropped her wand to her side and was looking at David with glistening eyes and pain and confusion written all over them.

"Hermione…" he eventually said, very quietly.

"He's lying, right? Please tell me he's lying David," she begged, trying her best to hold in the tears.

Turning to look her in the eyes, David found he couldn't answer, for his heart broke as he saw the pain-stricken Hermione before him.

"I-I know what Malediction is, D-David… Is, is it true?! Do you have it?" she asked with quivering lips.

Unable to answer, Hermione continued.

"I looked up your family awhile ago in the Library. They, they were huge, something about being one of the Three… A family like that can't just disappear… unless, unless… David. Answer me, please. Tell me its not true," she begged, desperate.

Eventually, David nodded and answered, ever so quietly, "It's true. I have Malediction."

"N-no!" Hermione gasped, with something in her twisting in pain and stuck between wanting to embrace him in a hug and cry or run away and cry.

In the end, she settled for an awkward attempt of a hug but found she couldn't manage it and clumsily started half running and walking away from David while wiping her tears on her sleeves.

"Hermione…" David called out, almost to himself, rooted on the spot.

---

Sorry, all! Not dropped, just really, really busy. Things should be settled down now and I can work towards getting back to a more structured schedule.