In Between Waves. [dramione - au]

WAVE 02 - turning his back.

You appear even-tempered though your looks will deceive.

And the sparks are always flying 'cause you drink for relief.

With the heart of a child and the will of a fool.

It's a wonder why I don't try to build a wall around you.

Full circle by Half Moon Run

XX

The next morning, Draco left before sunrise. He if was to find the mermaid, it was going to be on his own. He packed a bag with clothes and money. If he was seen by a royal guard, or his beloved father, he was screwed. He could not afford any mistake in his plans. He pulled down the hood of his dark green cape over his head.

He ran down to halls to the stables against the wall, in hope not to be seen.

He was lucky the stable boy was not awake yet. He untied his white horse, Slytherin, and walked in direction of the large door of the palace. He spoke in parseltongue to warn the horse about his plan. The horse answered back is agreement to go on an adventure.

No, he could not be seen. Going through the front gates was equivalent to yelling ''I'm going and please warn my father, thank you very much.'' He had to use his secret passage, under the castle. It was the first king of Hogwarts land, Salazar Slytherin, who had thought about a secret tunnel, an escape plan in case of attack from their enemy, the Gryffindor land. Since then, both land had come over their differences and had become great economical partners. It was going to be a little tight for Slytherin, but the horse had an incredibly calm temper and would not panic in close spaces. If Draco gave him an apple, the horse would not complain.

Left, left, right, left again and there he was, pushing the old metallic bars open for his worse to trot beside him.

As planned, he had to pay the price of an apple at the beginning of the secret tunnel. When Draco was far enough from the castle not to be seen, he jumped on his horse and galloped, always following the coast and turning his back to his castle.

''Forgive me, father,'' he whispered to himself in hope to somehow the wind would carry his words to his caring father.

He knew this would be a hard stroke to accept from his paternal. His mother had died when he was only 4 years old, and now he was running away in hope to find the mermaid.

XX

He arrived at the first village on the coast. It was named Dumbledore, after the first fisher who had established there and lived satiated and happy from his fishing. He pushed the door opened of the only tavern of the village, building name ''The Philosopher Stone''. It was a dirty place who had undeniably lived better days, cleaner days as well. The wooden floor had turn to black, under the accumulated mud. He and there, tables were lazily standing, most of them unused. Behind the counter, a young woman with dark and incredibly curled hair watched him entered with dark eyes, washing a dirty glass with a dirty rag.

She smiled at him and stopped her movement.

''Hi, what may I serve you today my good sir?''

''Butterbear please,'' he asked sitting at the counter. ''And that stew that seems to be cooked in the cauldron behind you.''

''Very well,'' she answered turning her back to him and prepared what he had ordered. She seemed to be frantic, and whispered under her breath, but to low so that Draco could catch anything.

The door was pushed opened by a fat man, with grey hair, with not much neck to support his enormous head and a large moustache that covered almost half of his mouth. One of his hands was resting on his belly, and the other one holding onto a fishing rod.