Authors note: This magnificent plot bunny was a gift from Bemily Q. The characters used belong to J. K. Rowling. Also, this has nothing to do with Beast Within. Just so there isn't any confusion. I hope you like it.

WARNING!: This is rated M FOR A REASON! There is going to be a lot of adult material in this one including male/male and male/female (I'll apologize now: the male/female lemons may not be that great. I've never written one before). If you aren't ok with that, please do not read this story. If you choose to read it anyway, you do so at your own risk. You have been warned.

He could feel his heart beating faster as he drew closer to the tower. 'It's a long shot, but it's all I have…' He stood in front of the portrait. When she did not turn to him, he cleared his throat.

"Yes, I saw you," the Fat Lady said, rather harshly. "You do not belong here, Mr. Malfoy. Leave. I will not let you pass, whether you know the password or not."

"I don't want in, I need someone to come out." She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Who could you possibly need to talk with in THIS house?"

"Potter. Could you send him out?" The surprise was evident on the portrait's face. She went to protest but Draco cut in. "I'm not going to pull anything, alright? I just need to talk to him." He pulled his wand from his pocket and set it on the edge of her frame. He took a few steps back. "Now, will you please get him?!" She looked perplexed for a few seconds, trying to figure out if she believed him or not. Without a word, she strode from the painting.

She returned a moment later and gave a light nod. "He's on his way. He should only be a minute." The Slytherin looked surprised that The Savior had actually agreed to hear him out. "I didn't tell him it was you," the Fat Lady explained, as if reading his mind.

Draco was startled slightly when the portrait gave a lurch and started to open. Harry emerged, the usual smile on his handsome face. It instantly deflated when he saw the blonde though. "What the hell do you want, Malfoy?"

"Will you step out? I would prefer it if our conversation was private. It doesn't concern anyone else in there." He nodded toward the tunnel behind Harry.

The Gryffindor simply scoffed. "Yeah, I'll just step right out so you can hex me and-"

"I'm not going to hex you! I don't even have my wand right now." Harry gave a very skeptical look.

"He's telling the truth," the Fat Lady piped in. "It's here, on the edge of my portrait." Harry glanced and saw the Hawthorn wand lying there. After a second of thought, the Gryffindor stepped out and closed the portrait, grabbing the blonde's wand off the edge.

"I'll just hold on to this then," he said, twirling the wand in his fingers. "As a bit of insurance while we talk: you try anything, I snap it." He smirked as the Slytherin tensed slightly, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

"I wasn't going to pull anything in the first place."

"So, what are you doing here?" Harry asked.

Draco straightened himself up as he spoke. Harry was surprised when the blonde bowed his head. "I came to ask for your help. I can't think of anyone else to go to." He raised his silver gaze to meet Harry's of hardened emerald. "Plans have been made to make me a Death Eater over the summer." Harry's eyes widened. Draco shook his head. "I don't want to be a Death Eater, but by refusing to take the Dark Mark I'm putting a target on my back. That's where you come in." He straightened up once more. "I need protection and I would like you to help me with that."

At this point, Harry felt certain that it was a joke. "Are you shitting me? Why the hell should I help a sod like you?" He turned to go back into the common room, but he was stopped in his tracks by Draco's words.

"So, the noble Harry Potter refuses to help an innocent classmate?" He shook his head in mock disappointment. "A student who would be able to provide valuable information on Death Eater activities… Why people say you're intelligent is a wonder to me."

Harry whipped around only to find the Slytherin smirking at him. "And how the hell do I know I can trust you? How do I know you're actually on our side and not theirs?"

Draco gave a shrug. "I suppose you can't know that. But you won't get anywhere in life without taking a gamble or two." He extended his hand to Harry. "So, what do you say? Will you help me? In exchange, I'll relay any information that I can."

Harry glared down at the pale hand, debating the sincerity of the blonde. 'It wouldn't make much sense for him to TELL me that he was going to get the Mark if he actually intended to get it… Then I'd know to look for it… And he's not thick enough to blunder that badly…' His gaze travelled up to Draco's eyes. For the first time ever, he didn't see malice gleaming in them. Harry grabbed the blonde's hand and gave it a firm shake. "Fine. I'll help you. 'Help' meaning 'assist' meaning you have to do some of the work too. We still have an hour or so until curfew, so let's go to the library and-"

"The library is useless," Draco stated flatly. "They don't have anything that's even the right class of magic. All I could find were different variations of Protego and other spells. I'm pretty sure that what we need is a form of Old Magic."

Harry sighed in irritation. "Well, did you check the Restricted Section?"

"Twice. There's nothing on Old Magic except for the Dark Arts. I found plenty of history on ancient protective spells and rituals, but nothing on how to perform them. There were loads of references to books by Malcolm The Strange, but…" Draco shrugged. "His books were banned from all schools by The Ministry. Even Durmstrang doesn't have them, and they teach the Dark Arts. I mean, how dangerous are his books if a school like that can't even get them?"

Harry nodded. Draco made a good point. He had to admit, his curiosity was now piqued. "I'm sure you won't be very keen on the idea, but I think Hermione should help us." Harry continued to speak, ignoring the light groan from the blonde. "Maybe she's read something about what we're looking for. And if anyone can help hunt down a book, it's Hermione."

After a minute, Draco nodded his agreement. "Only one problem: she hates me." Harry opened his mouth to speak but Draco held up his hand. "I know: 'She has every right to'. But my point is she'll never agree to help me."

"Leave Hermione to me… I'm sure I can figure something out." Harry ran his hand through his unkempt locks.

Draco nodded. "I believe that's it. You can go back into your dorm now."

Harry turned and started for the portrait, but, again, was stopped by the blonde calling for him. "Hey, Potter." Harry turned. Draco's hand was outstretched. "My wand?" The Gryffindor looked down at the Hawthorn wand in his hand, having forgotten he had it.

"Sorry…" He tossed it back to the Slytherin, who caught it and tucked it back into his pocket. Harry whispered the password so Draco couldn't hear it. He started into the tunnel.

"Oh, and Potter?" Harry turned once more, wondering what Draco wanted this time. "Thank you." With what looked like a small smile Draco descended the staircase, heading back down to the dungeons.

Note: End of chapter one. This was just a chapter to kind of set up the rest of the story. Hope you liked it. I hope to update this story (as well as a few of my others) soon.