Chapter 1

Draco Malfoy had many faults, and not admitting to those faults was one of them. Therefore, it was a miracle for him to be standing outside Professor Dumbledore's office one morning, his hands shaking and mind whirring. He hesitated before leaning to touch the door, and backed away after only a moment. Shaking his head, he muttered under his breath and backed away.

"Ah, Mr Malfoy," Dumbledore announced, his blue eyes sparkling behind half-moon spectacles, "I wondered when I'd be seeing you." Draco turned feverishly to see the headmaster standing directly behind him. For how long he had been there, Draco did not know.

"I-"

"I know," Dumbledore smiled, "please, follow me."

He then muttered something Draco could not quite catch under his breath, and watched as a room seemingly appeared before their eyes. Draco hesitantly followed the headmaster's footsteps, admiring the grandeur surrounding him. He had never before set foot in Dumbledore's office, and wondered how on earth he would approach the following conversation.

"Please take a seat Mr Malfoy", the headmaster announced, interrupting the blonde's analysis of the décor. Without hesitation he obeyed, sitting opposite the older man, feeling regretful and looking almost ashamedly at the floor. His usual pallor was tinted with pink as he flushed slightly with embarrassment, and more potently… fear. Fear of rejection and fear of being found out.

"Sherbet lemon, Draco?" It was the first time the professor had addressed the boy with his first name, but neither man seemed to acknowledge this.

Draco's nose wrinkled with distaste, "No thank you,"

"So Draco," Dumbledore continued whilst reaching for a sweet himself, "Why did you wish to speak with me this morning?" he asked as Draco cleared his throat nervously.

"I wanted to speak with you about… About switching sides."

Dumbledore's eyebrows raised, but other than that he showed no sign of surprise. After being stimulated by an encouraging hand gesture, Draco continued.

"I don't… want to be bad, but I see no way of switching sides without endangering myself and my family. Without your assistance I mean. Of course safety is my priority but…" Draco stuttered momentarily forgetting what he had previously rehearsed, "But I don't want to follow my parent's lead anymore. Is there any way I can possibly… help?" He stammered, his face colouring further.

"Is this simply a way to rebel against your parents?" Dumbledore questioned, now pacing the room.

"Malfoys do not go against their parents unless it is absolutely necessary. This isn't exactly a spontaneous decision," Draco spat, his steel eyes glinting.

"Of course, of course… But then why?"

"I need to think of my future," Draco stated flatly, looking almost desperately at the professor. At this, Dumbledore stopped and looked almost pitying at the boy before him.

"Of course, you do not want to be associated with Voldemort if Harry should succeed…"

"Obviously not," Draco drawled impatiently, "I don't care what it takes," he said before looking down at the floor again. A few moments passed, accentuated by the strained silence between the two men,

"And have your views changed at all?"

"I don't see why they should matter," Draco frowned, his expression indignant.

"Why, they matter most of all," Dumbledore explained, pacing once again.

"Well they remain unchanged. I stick beside my family's values when it comes to blood purity, but that does not make me a sadist. I do not want my views to result in the murder of innocent people." Draco muttered quietly, almost ashamedly.

At this, Dumbledore looked down at Draco once more, and seemed to search his grey eyes with curiosity. "So you are asking for an exchange?"

"Yes. I will do whatever I can to help your cause, if it means I do not have to be shipped to Azkaban in the future," Draco said wearily, looking into the professor's tired eyes.

"Well I'm glad you came to me Draco, because I do indeed have something I need help with."

Harry Potter was more than a little surprised when he was passed a note from Dumbledore requiring his presence in his office that evening. In fact, he was slightly worried and automatically assumed he would be receiving bad news. Despite these anxieties, he arrived punctually outside the office door, sweating slightly before reciting the password written on the note (Fizzing Whizbees). After striding into Dumbledore's office, bile rose in his throat when he saw none other than Draco Malfoy seated opposite the professor. No one in the wizarding world would have mistaken the white-blonde hair for anyone else, so Harry's heart sank in his chest knowing this meeting would not be fun.

Draco heard footsteps behind him, and knew instantly who they would belong to. In fact, he knew this without identifying the various scuffs and squeaks Harry's shoes always made when walking across polished floor. He just knew. His immediate reaction was to turn and scowl, but stopped when he looked into Dumbledore's eyes. He had signed up for this.

"Good evening Harry," Dumbledore smiled. Draco said nothing.

"Good evening professor," Harry replied civilly, taking a seat next to Draco despite his reluctance. Draco wrinkled his nose and shifted slightly in his seat whilst Harry rolled his eyes agitatedly, beginning to hope this conversation would not take long.

"Draco, I assume you are trained in the art of Occlumency?" Dumbledore began.

"Yes," Draco said hesitantly, his eyes narrowing.

At this point Harry stood up from his seat and erupted, "You've got to be joking!" his expression disbelieving.

Draco, oblivious to Harry's thoughts simply scowled slightly and looked at Harry with a similar expression of disbelief, "What?" he asked, "What's going on?"

Dumbledore continued, seemingly ignorant of the commotion surrounding him. "Draco, could you perhaps enlighten Harry on the importance of Occlumency when one is mentally connected to a powerful dark wizard?"

Draco only continued to look confused, "I don't understand, could somebody tell me what's going on?" he asked again, this time seeming even more agitated.

Harry only looked at Dumbledore with a pleading expression, "Please don't do this Professor"

"WHAT'S GOING ON?" Draco bellowed.

Harry looked at Draco with an expression that looked like extreme discomfort, while Dumbledore smiled slightly. "Thank you Draco, I was just about to get to that." Draco coughed embarrassedly whilst Harry sat back down, looking at the floor. "Harry needs someone to teach him Occlumency – somebody who is well trained in the art. You are obviously a perfect example of somebody who could do this."

"Well not exactly," Harry laughed maliciously, "his parents are… are…" Harry began but faltered when looking at Draco's devastated expression.

"Well?" Draco began, "Maybe, but they aren't dead are they?" He spat, almost growling at the smaller boy.

"And they probably wouldn't be if it wasn't for-"

"I trust him," Dumbledore announced, interrupting the two boys. At this comment, both boys looked at the professor with an expression of utter disbelief. "It is imperative that you should learn to control your mind, and it's important that Draco should teach you this."

"But why Malfoy?" Harry asked again, his expression desperate.

"I'm sure you will both grow to understand," Dumbledore said, a slight sad smile playing with his features. "You are both dismissed; I will arrange your first meeting in one of the transfiguration classrooms next week. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me."

But despite the many questions both boys festered, neither stayed to ask them.