Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters and make no profit off of this story.
Oh, and I realize that some people might look at this story and decide that it's slash but it isn't. This is meant to be a FRIENSHIP fic. Don't read into it something I didn't put there.
Harry knew a lot of secrets. He knew things people never dreamed of him knowing. But he had never suspected Draco Malfoy's secrets were like this. Oh, he had known the blond brat had secrets but he had thought they were secrets like who his daddy dearest killed last night or which ministry worker was a double agent to a darker power. He had never suspected Draco Malfoy's secrets would include said blond lying half-dead in the Forbidden Forest doing his best to bleed to death.
Of course, with all the practice sneaking that Dumbledore had given Harry over the years he was easily able to get Malfoy into the Hogwarts infirmary without having to explain what he himself had been doing out in the Forbidden Forest. Dumbledore had always known Harry to be honest and loyal. He didn't remember that Harry was a survivor.
No one knew what had happened to the Malfoy heir. Madame Pomphrey was sure the boy would be fine, no need to owl his parents. He would just need the best of her skills. When he awoke the boy would only sneer and tell everyone he didn't remember what happened, so lay off. It probably was another mess started by Potter.
Harry stood at the foot of Malfoy's hospital bed and waited for the blonde to open his eyes.
"Come to apologize for letting lose another monster?" the blond sneered without opening his eyes.
Harry didn't respond for a while. "I know what happened." He said casually.
Malfoy's eyes shot open in surprise and fear but he quickly schooled his face to emotionlessness. "Oh really? And what genius theory do you have scarhead?"
"I get visions you know Malfoy. I get to listen in on Death Eater meetings." He pointed to his scar.
Malfoy paled but didn't say anything.
"Your father boasts."
"My father's full of it. It doesn't mean anything." They both knew it was a lie but he had to say it. Had to deny it. Had to keep it a secret.
"It does." Harry cocked his head to the side. "They kept you locked up in a cupboard too, didn't they? That's why you're so pale."
"They didn't lock me up in any stupid cupboard." Draco sneered but he didn't tell Harry to shove off.
"Somewhere else then."
It was too late to deny it anymore. Harry knew. The lack of response only cemented it.
"They make us think it's our fault, that we need it, that we like it even. And after they're done we continue on tearing ourselves apart, don't we?"
Be mean so they can't be mean first. Don't make friends, you don't deserve them. Don't talk back, you deserve to be hated. Do anything they tell you. They know the truth. They know better.
"Is that why you're a blasted Griffindor?"
The other nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. You're quick."
"Have to be." The blonde said, closing his eyes wearily for a long moment. "I have to get out of here you know. I can't stay and have him find out I'm not dead. And Dumbledork can't know either."
"So you've figured that out too?"
"That he knew? That he purposely goes around setting you up? All the times he's out of the school just when you need his help?"
"That he placed me with monsters, knowing full well what they were? That he allowed Sirius Black to spend 12 years in Azkaban for a murder he didn't commit? For letting Death Eaters into the school to find me? That he allowed the Triwizard competition knowing it had to be a trap and later letting Sirius Black die? Yes. He thinks he can mould me into his own one-man army by setting the circumstances."
"Playing God you mean. And he'll use me too."
"Which is why I'm prepared Malfoy. Can you get out of the bed?"
Wincing Draco did as he was asked. Harry pulled some ingredients out of his pockets and poured them onto the vacated sheets, muttering an incantation. Seconds later a perfect copy of the bed's previous occupant lay stretched out there, naked as the day he was born.
"Here. You'll need to switch your clothes." Harry handed Draco a spare set of clothes and turned his back while the real Malfoy changed and dressed his double. He noticed that his double was not breathing. When he was done Harry handed him an invisibility cloak.
"How'd you do that Potter?" Draco asked curiously.
"I've been preparing for my own escape. The room of requirement comes in very handy sometimes. Come on."
"Wait. We need to do something about the old man. I'm not letting him get away all lily-white and clean on this." Draco growled fiercely.
A self-satisfied expression came to the dark haired boy's face. "I know. I have a plan."
"How very Slytherin of you."
"I knew we were more alike than you thought. I almost was a Slytherin."
"But they made you be a Griffindor for them."
Harry nodded and led the way out of the infirmary. He made his way deep into the dungeons and Draco guessed where he was going.
"It's that picture frame right there." He told the other where his head of house resided.
Harry nodded his thanks and knocked on the picture frame. It swung open and the dark countenance of Professor Severus Snape peered out.
"Potter. What is it?"
"I think it's time you and I had a talk sir." The reply was cool and emotionless.
One eyebrow rose elegantly but he held open the picture frame for him to enter. The picture swung shut behind them.
As soon as they were alone Draco pulled off the cloak. "Good evening professor."
"Ahh. Good evening."
"We're leaving." Harry spoke up. "I was hoping you might deliver a little token of our esteem to the Headmaster after we're gone."
"Oh? Nothing permanent I hope. As wrong as he is in some of his practices, I do require him to hold back Voldemort until he can be defeated."
"No, nothing permanent. Just a penseive."
"Ahh." Snape was clearly satisfied with this. "I'm assuming you've put the correct charms on it Potter?"
"Of course. Every memory will be first person. No simple observing for our great Dumbledore." Harry pulled the shrunken penseive out of his pocket and restored it to its regular size.
Draco was smirking. "Perfect. Does it do feelings too?"
"That will be my gift to the two of you." Snape's silken tones came.
The two boys raised wands to their foreheads and filled the penseive without hesitation. When they were finished Harry handed the penseive to the older man.
"You'll be hearing about us Professor." The young Malfoy stated calmly. "Maybe we'll even get in touch once the smoke clears."
"Do have fun reordering the world. I shall quite enjoy the sight."
"And of course the chagrined screams when everyone figures out what's going on." Harry said shrewdly.
"Of course."
There was no need for any more farewell than that. The two turned and exited through the portrait again. Outside Harry turned to Draco.
"I'll be your mirror if you'll be mine."
"Ironic how we need that from each other, isn't it? Very well. I accept."
Harry smiled brittley. "A Malfoy and a Potter. Together we'll take this world back."
Draco's answering smile was frosty. "It's belonged to old men too long."
And the world that could create such boys in the depths of hell, a world that had accidentally created such boys strong enough to end that hell, felt its first trembling death throes.
Author's Notes: Well, I haven't ever written anything this dark before but I find it strangely compelling. Let me know what you think so I can decide if I want to post the rest of it or just leave it as a one-shot deal.