Okay, so there's something everyone should know. About my pen name, apparently it's also the name referring to the Remus/Bellatrix ship. Um…I don't support that. It's creepy. I thought of this name years before picking up Harry Potter and haven't changed it since I'm kinda known by it now. Yeah… that's it…on with the show…

Warnings: Umm…Draco torture? Sorry, it had to be done. Possible slash…I dunno, depends on what reviewers think cause I'm not sure what happens after the big THING that is gonna happen.

Also…this idea popped up not long after goblet of fire came out so I'm trying to do my best to make it cannon but there still might be errors leaning towards AU

A/N: Already wrote that up top. Besides that I only have to say this is my first fic so…be nice? I guess…

Disclaimer: I don't own it. This is purely for the entertainment of myself and who ever else reads it. Honestly, do you really think I'm J. K. Rowling? If I was then there would have been more scenes starring the Weasley Twins!

Bad Faith
By Moonlit Eyes

"Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed." --Michael Pritchard

Malfoy Mansion was built four centuries after Hogwarts (according to speculation in Hogwarts, a History) in an attempt to flaunt the family wealth to the country. The attempt was well received as many other wealthy British nobles went out of their way to include the newly relocated French nobility into their circles. Massive balls were held within it's walls as well as a multitude of other social events that only the most important of aristocrats were given invitation to. All the way till the day Lucius Malfoy was placed in Azkaban, the ancestral home of the Malfoy's had been a symbol of pureblood wealth that was often revered by even those who detested the legacy and what it stood for.

Of course a place so old and so soaked with the old magics held more than it's fair share of secrets. Hogwarts was a prime example of such an ancient structure that most anyone in Britain's magical community could relate to. Though, Hogwarts was on the better half of the spectrum. The secrets tangled within the walls of Malfoy Mansion were much more dark and much less friendly, especially towards those that did not have the family blood running through their veins.

And no one, living and sane, knew this better than Draco Malfoy. Not even Narcissa Malfoy, who had been so uncomfortable when she first stepped into the threshold as the young bride of Lucius that she rarely ventured out into the halls beyond her private rooms and the library. Not even Lucius Malfoy, who walked around his home with sheer confidence that, as the lord of the manor, the ancient walls would not turn against him now.

Then again, it had been generations since a Malfoy had found themselves stuck with the current heir's predicament.

"How dare he leave me here in this dirty cellar like some punished house elf!" Draco said to no one in particular as he stared through the darkness at the cold stone wall across from him. He was still wearing his Slytherin uniform, though after the days he'd been in there (or had it been weeks?) the sad robes didn't much look like the expensive tailored clothes that used to make him look as every bit the spoiled aristocrat's son he was…or used to be. It seemed like forever since he'd been placed inside that room by Severus Snape after that fateful night, left with only access to old servants quarters and broken promises that it would only be till safer arrangements could be made.

"Honestly, he could have at least left me a blanket. Manners should have dictated as much," Draco said, continuing to voice his complaints in the empty room where no one but Snape knew where he was. Just recently he'd finally had enough of the strange silence and began to voice his complaints and thoughts out loud. Never mind that it made him seem crazy, it wasn't like there was anyone there to hear his half-hysterical ramblings.

Not to mention being locked away alone with only guilt and paranoia as company did things to a person's mind.

"Though I suppose the bloody fool never realized that real people get cold. After all, it is known that vampires don't get cold and rumors say that he is, indeed, a--" He stopped instantly. A noise. To the left? No, the right. Outside the door that Snape had locked to insure that Draco was held like a prisoner in the room. "For your own safety, Draco. I'm held by a Vow with your mother to do as much," Snape had told him coldly before leaving and never since returning. True, Draco wanted to be hidden from both Voldemort and the Ministry in order to prevent torture and Azkaban from either parties respectively, but never did he want to be placed in one of the hidden rooms of his family home. The manor house was alive, Draco knew. It breathed and whispered and moved, all in a very dangerous way. Haunted was possibly one of the best terms to describe--

Draco jumped as the sound was heard again and fell against the wall behind him. He tried to stand up straighter but his legs turned boneless and he slid down the wall. His arms were clutching his torso in an attempt to keep some warmth for himself, though he was careful not to let go of the wand in his hand. The Slytherin berated himself for acting such a way, what a sight he must make! But he'd never learned how to let go of fear once it's icy claws gripped at his heart. He wasn't a Gryffindor, not because of the shame the house would bring to his family, but because he'd never learned to master courage over sly tricks to avoid need for such a quality. Though, in his personal opinion, courage wasn't so much a quality as it was just plain lack of wit and self-preservation to avoid--

There it was again. Noises, more this time. "Vo-voices?" Draco asked himself, shaking his hair out of his eyes, the gel which usually held it back was long since gone after he'd pulled at it so many times. Light grew bright in the cracks of the door and he grew rigid with suspense.

"The door, it wants me again. I went inside once but it wants me back," Draco's words were rushed as memories filled his mind. Memories of a long hallway, lined with pictures of smiling faces framed by ebony strands. Of a warm, blue carpet that seemed inviting and stretched towards the end, leading to a door that even the house elves strayed from. Yes, the door. That's what must be calling him. That door that had fooled him at the innocent age of five just as it had his father, and his father's father, and even his father before that.

A loud bang against the door in front of him made him jump and whimper. Something was definitely outside. It couldn't be a person since Snape would have snuck in without such racket and no one else could have found their way under Malfoy Manor unless they were shown there by either Draco, or Narcissa. Lucius never led anyone down here and Snape would never…unless he squealed. He had heard whispered suspicions of the potion master's true loyalty, if did have any loyalties to give.

Another bang with another answering whimper. No, it had to be the manor, Draco concluded. Without Lucius willing to risk being anywhere near the land even, the home must have decided to finally give into the urge to attack Draco. Young Draco who still hadn't become the man his father said he needed to be in order to control the mansion. Young Draco who still cowered at night from the stories his father told him growing up. Every young Malfoy knew the dangers of wandering the halls for the very reason that there was a cursed door, as silly as it sounds to young ears who heard other children speak of monsters under the bed and other things that go bump in the night. Though once experience taught them a hard lesson, they each never thought it very funny that a door was out to get them.

"It's coming…" Draco suddenly giggled madly. "It's coming and I won't be here any longer. Everyone will wonder what happened to the last--" BANG! "--e-evil Malfoy but they'll never know since no one will know since I won't even know since I'll just have disappeared as if I wasn't even born but I guess no one will really mind because--"

The door crashed open loudly and instinctively Draco's hands went up to shield his eyes from the sudden light that poured in. It seemed like forever since Draco last seen real light beyond a quick Lumos.

"Bloody hell, is this the last room down here? This place is too big!" Someone complained. Draco just sat with his arms still held up, suddenly confused. Was he being tricked? That voice wasn't Snape's nor his mother's. No one else should be down here. Maybe he'd finally gone mad. How depressing. To be merely seventeen and already as loony as Aunt Bella.

"Harry? What is it? Is there something inside?" That voice, female this time, sounded oddly familiar. And did they say Harry?

"There's someone inside!" A new voice. No, wait, not new. He recognized it too. It was…

"Potter?" Draco squinted at the dark shapes with wands coming towards him.

"Blimey! Is that Malfoy?" Weasley? Then the third voice was Granger. But they shouldn't be here, it was wrong. Draco felt himself giggling again.

"Leave it to you, Potter, to find a way to do the impossible," he said irritated and glad at the same time. He could get out now, even if he was arrested anywhere was better than this, right? Anywhere away from the cold silence that haunted him with past mistakes involving a dying old man and screaming children, and haunted him with old fears of halls that rearranged themselves and walls that whispered cruelly to those not prepared. He felt behind him for the stone wall and started to try to lift himself up. Suddenly the flash of a spell, more likely a hex, flew towards him and he fell forward.

And Draco Malfoy was unconscious before he even hit the ground.

--

Four days prior to the Trio finding the half-crazed Malfoy, Harry Potter had been spending a rather long time planning his newest adventure in Grimmauld Place when strange news had found him. Narcissa Malfoy, found only half alive by the Order, was being kept in her old room down the hall. She hadn't been thrilled to learn that her second home growing up was in the ownership of none other than the Boy Who Lived, but she didn't complain for long.

"My son! You have to help my son!" Narcissa said histerically. "You have to protect him from the Dark Lord!"

"And why should we do such a thing, Mrs. Malfoy?" Remus had spoken calmly to her. "I understand he is your son, but he's committed some very serious crimes two months ago. We have no reason to--"

"He only did it to save me! The Dark Lord threatened our lives, Draco felt he had no other choice," She leaned heavily against the chair she sat in, looking nothing like the proud pureblood wife Harry had seen at the Quidditch World Cup. "He took the Dark Mark because he knew there was no other choice. He's such a good boy. He'd do anything to save me. Such a good, foolish, foolish, boy." Narcissa hung her head and let her dirty hair fall forward. She sat and pleaded for four more hours, doing her best to promise that both her and Draco would tell all they knew and stay out of trouble if he was returned safely to her.

No one listened to her. It was far too risky to trust her when she said she would lead them into the Malfoy home safely.

Harry, however, thought this was a chance he couldn't pass up. Too bad after a half hour of arguing, Hermione couldn't say the same thing.

"Harry, really, this is too dangerous," Hermoine reasoned quietly as they sat on the bed. "I've read about Malfoy Mansion, though there isn't much available about the place. It's not very kind to outsiders."

"But what if there's something about a Horcrux there? Or better yet, what if Malfoy had hidden another Horcrux away like he did with Riddle's Diary?" Harry said, his mind already made up.

"Harry's right, this is too good." Ron said, ever the faithful friend. Harry smiled gratefully at the redhead before frowning as Hermione spoke up.

"Do you really think Lucius Malfoy would be entrusted with two Horcruxes? Especially after he lost one in the Chamber of Secrets?" Hermione said with a huff, her hands placed firmly on her sides. "Besides, remember when Malfoy was arrested two years ago? The Ministry raided Malfoy Mansion twice for artifacts and claimed to have taken everything Dark related."

"Claimed to have, but knowing those slimy gits they probably hid them somewhere even the aurors couldn't find them," Ron pointed out bitterly.

"Look, I know you don't agree with me, Mione." Harry turned to face her fully. "But I told you before, I'm going to get the Horcruxes with or without your help. Ron's right, too. What if they have some place to hide things in that even the ministry couldn't find them? With Mrs. Malfoy's help, we might be able to find something really worthwhile. This could be a lead that we've been looking for since before I even came here after my birthday." Though it was really only Ron and Hermione doing the looking since he had been keeping his promise to Dumbledore by staying with his relatives. Harry shook the thought away before continuing, "I mean it, Hermione. You're either going with me to help or staying behind."

"Harry," Hermione sighed, "that's not fair. You know no matter what you decide to do I'll be with you. We're best friends." She looked at him with begging eyes, "I just want you to consider the risks. It's dangerous."

"We're in a war, everything we do will be dangerous." Harry said and Hermione gave him a sad look he shared. They were at war. It was official. No longer could he even hope to have a school year where his greatest worries would be homework and winning the Quidditch House Cup. Now it was a matter of surviving to see what a wizarding world not living in fear could be like or die in world… well, that was something Harry didn't want to even ponder.

"Harry's right," Ron held up his chin in a show of determination. "Besides, I told you I was by your side no matter what, I meant it."

"Okay," Hermione said boldly, "I'm going with you. Someone needs to watch you two." She added teasingly and for a second they grinned at each other before turning serious again.

"Right then, we'll need to talk to Mrs. Malfoy first." Harry said, taking up the initiative.

Unfortunately things didn't quite go as planned. It took three days of constant vigilance, to quote Moody, before the Trio managed to sneak into Narcissa's room alone. They had gone in there, prepared to catch her by surprise, but again their plans didn't go quite right.

"Hello, Mr. Potter," She was sitting by the window looking out when they came in, now she turned to face them calmly, "and friends." Her voice was cold and carefully spoken. She may have been there prisoner, but she refused to show weakness again after that first night. After all, they wanted information and she wanted her son. She would make sure they knew Narcissa meant business by waiting for them to help her son before she talked.

"Ma'am," he nodded and stepped forward while still keeping a reasonable distance between them. "I came here because…"

"You want in my home?" She knew it was only a matter of time before Gryffindor's Golden Boy came wanting to play hero with a chance at snooping around Malfoy Mansion. She honestly couldn't care less if he leveled the home she secretly feared. "You should know I have a price. Equivalent exchange, as the old alchemists might say."

"Malfoy, I mean Draco," Harry said the name awkwardly, "needs to be brought here unharmed, right?" Harry looked back at Hermione and Ron who were watching the door. Ron gave him the thumbs up, meaning it was still safe to be there without getting caught.

"Very good, you remembered." Narcissa replied smoothly. "Of course, the only time you'll be able to snoop around is after you retrieve my son. Only one with the Malfoy name and those so deemed worthy may wander those halls safely," to an extent, she added to herself, smiling when she saw Harry deflate slightly. "Do we have a deal?"

Harry only hesitated at the thought of having Draco sodding Malfoy trailing around with him, but he quickly shook the thought out of his head. He was hoping he could just claim not to have found him, but that wasn't sounding like a possibility now. "Yes."

"Good, now to discuss a few things I think you should know," Narcissa uncrossed her ankles to stand up.

According to Narcissa Malfoy, they had to leave at the crack of dawn in order to have sufficient time to not only get in but to find their former classmate as well. She was very quick to stress the importance of not wandering around after dark. "The magic in Malfoy Mansion is very old and is strongest in the light of the moon and stars.

"Remember also, once you're underground in the lowest floor, do not open the doors with red ribbons on the door knobs. I took great care to mark them for very good reason." She mentioned a few of the consequences others suffered for not following these directions. Harry did his best not to turn green. "Also, listen to Draco when he says where to go and where not to go. He was born and grew up there, he knows most of the secrets waiting for you. Without my husband to reinforce his control over the manor these past few years, it's easier for one to be caught by certain…traps," when she said this last part her eyes seemed to turn a softer blue, but it was gone before Harry knew it and he figured he must have imagined it.

Narcissa continued her instructions quickly while making sure she talked to Harry like she would a small child, making her dislike for him obvious. Harry, however, continued to stand tall and not be affected. He'd been taunted by worse and would not give her the satisfaction. Though he could not hide his irritation.

"Finally, you'll need two things." She pulled out a vial from a hidden pocket in her robes. Insides was a dark red liquid that Harry recognized. "This is my blood. It's very important so try not to lose it. You'll need to keep this on you at all times, this way the house wards will not mark you as an enemy when you give the passwords at the places I specified." Narcissa then sat and gracefully took off an anklet Harry never noticed. "This is for Draco. When you tell him about our deal, give it to him. It'll be the only way he'll believe you."

For a second, the blue ice of her eyes melted as he took the items and she held his hands. "Please, bring him back to me. I want to see him again, even if it's for the last time. He's all I have, just as I'm all he has."

"I will," Harry said firmly. It's not like I have another choice. Then the moment was gone and she took her hands away as if he had a disease.

"Good luck, Young Mister Potter," Narcissa turned back to the window, her face and movements as icy as ever. "You'll need it." Her words may have sounded kind, but Harry knew she was mocking him by her tone. With a nod he left with his friends to begin prepping themselves for the trip. Narcissa stayed by the window, clutching her robes closer to her body when it was safe to assume she was alone.

"Please, Draco, be okay."

To Be Continued…

YAY! My first Harry Potter fan fiction! I honestly meant to do a one shot about Draco, our favorite angst-bunny, as my debut into the HP fandom, but this has been bothering me for years so… oh well, is all good. This story is definitely starting out better than my other fanfics. Ah, the Malfoys inspire me so…

To slash or not to slash…that is the question…

REVIEW!