Title: The Anatagonist

Book: Harry Potter

Author: HairoM

Genre: romance, drama, general, AU, AR

Pairing(s): Draco/Harry (main)

WARNINGS: m/m, slash, angst, character death (not Harry or Draco), OOC, creature

DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling. This story is for entertainment only and I make no money off of it. However, some charcaters in this fan fiction were created by me and belong to me, as does the plotline of this story.

The Antagonist

-prologue-

.o.O.O.o.

"'Cause love only comes once in a while

Knocks on your door and throws you a smile

It takes every breath and leaves every scar

Speaks to your soul and sings to your heart."

I know now, what I hadn't known then.

And I'd fall in love with you over and over again.

First there was the lightning, and like every other time, thunder came afterwards. The dark sky was momentarily bright and the massive black clouds were visible to the last detail, but it only made them more dramatic and frightening. People are mostly afraid of what they can't see, because they don't know what it might be and how to face it. They would like to see the things that they're up against, thinking that if they do so their fear would lessen, not knowing that sometimes it's better for those things to stay in the dark.

The rolling of thunder faded away and, as if it was the opening shot, a torrent of rain poured down from the clouds all of a sudden. Another stormy night. He stepped away from the large window and turned to the fireplace. He stared at it for a long moment, contemplating inaudibly in his head. His father was probably in his bed chamber and so was his brother. It was silent aside from the sound of crackling fire. After a moment he decided that he shouldn't be so anxious and went to his bed. An old notebook was lying there and he picked it up. It was made of green leather and had a beautiful silver clasp to keep it closed. But the pages, that were already a light shade of yellow even before he received the notebook , were blank. Not even a single word, not even his name was written in it. He ran a finger along the spine and allowed himself a small smile, barely noticeable. His mother gave it to him and she had said it was special. There was nothing really special about it in truth, and he assumed she said it because it was from her to him and because she hadn't given one to his brother, and that fact made that notebook special indeed.

He leafed through the empty pages and wondered if he should start using it after all. Up until now he hasn't done so because there was nothing special to write, not really. His life was the same as the rest of his family's and he had no desire to write about his life, or his family for that matter.

His father and brother didn't know about the notebook, not that it was any big secret. It just pleased him that it was something given to him by his mother and no one besides the two of then knew about it. The thought made him smile again.

He leaned back on the bed and held the notebook in his hand, close to his chest. Tonight was his last night here at home. From tomorrow on he'd be an exiled prince, cast out by his own father for something he hadn't done. Like homework, he thought and it made him laugh madly. But they're punishing me for something I didn't do. Of course everyone else thought otherwise and he was outnumbered and all his attempts to convince them that he was innocent failed misereably. He didn't blame them for finding him guilty, he probably would have thought the same if he hadn't known the truth, but he was angry with them for not believing him when he said he was innocent. The anger he felt soon grew to a raging fury and it burned his insides like a wild fire in a field of dry thorns-quick and deadly.

He looked at his notebook again and let a single tear slide down his cheek. I'm so sorry... He didn't do it, and they definitely didn't do it, but sometimes it felt as if they did. He wasn't one to cry much, not as a child and not as a twenty year old adult. But last night he did and it was curious and strange and he didn't like it at all.

It was just a misunderstanding, that's what it was. But of course, no one but him knew that.

"I'm so sorry mother," he whispered to the empty room. "I'll make them pay, I promise."

###-###-###

He knew it was a bad idea as soon as she suggested it but he couldn't stop her. It was just a feeling after all. He couldn't help but admire her way of thinking. He, of course, was the best suited person for this. He was the rebellious son, the younger brother, the one who isn't meant to inherit the throne, the one who's meant to watch form the shadows. She knew it, and she knew of his feelings towards his brother and father. That's why she chose him.

"Mother, I do think this is a bad idea," he told her firmly but futiley.

"Draco, promise me!" she whispered urgently and looked at him straight in the eye. She was beautiful in her firmness and he was told he looked very much like her. "Promise me, Draco!"

He sighed deeply and promised.

They passed the large corridors as fast as they could, ignoring the guards and servants. Let them see. When they reached the room they entered it and quickly locked the door behind them. "Quick! Over here!" she urged him and he followed. She closed all curtains and then turned to him. "You know they're going to blame you for this," she said and her voice was low and soft. He nodded silently. Of course he knew! That was the whole point, wasn't it? That was why she chose him and not his brother, No one would ever even dream of blaming his brother. But he himself was a different case. He was the bad boy, the child who was no good at all.

"You don't have to do this," she tried again but he shook his head.

"I want to. If they can't trust me for doing nothing, I shall give them a real reason not to."

She looked at him and the smile she gave him was a sad one. "I love you, you know," she said.

"And I never wanted it, the throne," he told her. "I just don't feel belong here." And father never loved me as much he loves Aquila.

"You shall be king Draco," she said firmly and her eyes glowed in a strange light. "When there's no light there's darkness. When there are no eagles in the sky, dragons shall be seen again." He smiled to that. "Are you suggesting I do something to dispose of my brother? Your first-born son?" he asked in a slight amusement.

"Not at all. I'm merely giving you an advice my son."

"I must say I don't fully understand your advice, mother."

"You will, when the time comes."

They could hear footsteps now, of guards running and servants in panic. "Hurry!" she urged him and he pulled out his wand. She stood there motionless and a determined look in her eyes. "Look for me in the flowers, Draco. I'll be there and we'll meet again." she whispered softly to him. "Tell them the truth."

He could feel salty tears streaming down his face, into his nose and mouth but he didn't wipe them away. Let them fall, he thought. And as he raised his wand and aimed it at her chest he thought again of why they were doing this. The answer was clear and hard: they needed someone to blame, a scapegoat. Draco didn't think they desreved his help, but his mother still believed in them and he loved his mother. He was doing it for her and only for her. Not for the father who's never loved him, and not for the big brother who took his father's love all to himself. No, he was doing it for her and perhaps... he mouthed the incatation, and as his mother fell to the floor in what seemed like a thousand minutes, he could hear her last words to him: thank you...

When the gurads finally found him and took him away, he glanced at the body of his dead mother for the last time and swore to himself he'd make them pay for everything.

.o.O.O.o.

A/N: This plot bunny was further evolved after watching Thor and falling in love with Loki all over again. (Yes, I know he looks awful in the comics. I'm talking about the real Loki from the original norse mythology). In this fan fiction of mine, Harry isn't the main character as he so often is. Instead, it's Draco. Just like Loki, I think Draco is somewhat misunderstood and I wanted to create a story which sympathizes Draco. Harry, despite not being the main character, still has an important role here because maybe he isn't The Hero he usually is, but he is still the only one who can save Draco from himself.

The lyrics at the begining are from Lady Antebellum's "If I Knew Then". check it out, it's awesome!

HairoM 3