For Want of a Horse

For Want of a Horse


Draco Malfoy was lying on his back with a cold cloth on his head. His eyes were closed and he was counting the times he tapped the coffee table with his fingers. He was up to seventy-six when Professor Dumbledore’s voice tore him away.

He sat up, letting the cloth fall to his lap.

“Yes Professor?”

“Come with me.”

The two men went into the Malfoy family library and sat down.

“I placed a call to a colleague of mine and it seems that not only did Ms. Summers fall into your yard, she fell through a portal.”

“What?”

“Apparently a portal was opened right when she fell. Now, there is a very complicated way to send her back.”

“How?”

“Sending her back is not the hard part. We can send her back to the exact moment she left, if we wanted to, which is what we are going to do, the hard part is closing the portal before she falls through it.”

“I see.” Draco said slowly. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I thought you would like to know.”

“Well thank you professor.”

Dumbledore rose to leave. “We will send her back when she is well.”

With a great flourish of his robes he walked out.

Draco picked up the piece of parchment that had fallen.

“It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.” He read.

He looked in the direction Dumbledore had gone.

“No wonder that man is the greatest wizard in the world.” He muttered, stuffing the parchment into his pocket.

He sat there fingering that parchment for about half an hour when Harry came in.

“Dumbledore told me.”

Draco looked up. “Okay.”

“Go talk to her.”

“Why?”

“She doesn’t hate you. You just remind her of someone.”

Draco stood up and left.

Harry looked at his back. “He really is messed up isn’t he?” He shook his head.

Buffy looked up when Draco came in.


“Did Dumbledore tell you?” He asked.

“No.”

“Well, we’re going to send you back when you get better. Apparently you fell through a portal.”

Buffy groaned. “God I hate portals.”

Draco smiled grimly. “I bet.”

“I do!” She cried

“Okay.” Draco retreated to the couch.

Buffy growled and launched a pillow at Draco’s head.

“Hey!” He cried when it hit him.

Buffy giggled, which turned into a hacking cough. She turned on her side.

“I hate you.”

“No you don’t” He retorted.

“No. I don’t.” She echoed.

He left the room.