Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series.
This is my first time ever even attempting to write a Harry Potter fanfic, so please give me some feedback and let me know what you think. I was trying to show a side of the Malfoy's that I haven't seen before. I haven't read many HP fanfics, so I don't know if this has been done before, but the ideas are all mine.
I hope you enjoy the story. Please let me know things I should work on, or things that you liked about it. :D
I opened the door to my large bedroom, taking in everything that my parents had been able to give me over the years. My parents are the most important thing to me, they've given up everything for my safety; they're my heroes.
I was just getting back from one of the long arduous meetings that were becoming an almost daily occurrence. The Dark Lord was getting more and more power hungry; he wanted to battle Potter. He wanted to get it over with so that he could bring wizards to their proper place. The problem was, no one knew where Potter was.
Harry Potter and I had never been great friends; to be perfectly honest, for a while, I really hated the guy. It was definitely uncalled for, but I couldn't help it, to me, he was the reason my family was in danger. Recently, though, I've come to realize that he is our only hope. None of my family wants to be in the predicament that we're in now, and we need him to get ourselves out of it. I really hope he can do what so many think is impossible for him.
It was almost two in the morning. I started dragging my feet across the plush beige carpet that covered my floor. I didn't even take the time to strip off my shoes or clothes; I just fell onto my bed, and was almost instantly asleep. I haven't been dreaming lately, mostly because of the long hours, but also because of all of the horrific events that keep replaying in my head while I'm awake. Somehow, I'm able to block them out when I sleep, but only because I'm so exhausted.
Tonight was different though. She flew in and out of my dreams. The girl I haven't seen or thought of in months. I had to push her memory to the far corners of my mind. I couldn't show any kind of weakness, and love was the greatest of all. If you loved someone, it meant you trusted, and to the Dark Lord, there is no such thing as trust. Easy to say for someone who's only friend is a giant snake…
The dream wasn't very vivid. The only thing that stood out to me when I woke up was that her face was burned into my eyelids; every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. I couldn't start thinking about her again. Whenever that happened, someone got hurt. I wouldn't allow that to happen again, I couldn't live with myself if someone else got hurt because of me again.
Even though I knew the risks, I couldn't help but wonder what she was doing right now. Was she be traveling with her parents, reading Hogwarts, A History again, or would she, possibly, be thinking of me? Was she planning on going back to Hogwarts this year? It would be horrible, I knew, because the Carrows would be in charge of discipline. I really hoped she wasn't, I couldn't bear to see her get in trouble.
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"Draco, you must hurry! He is asking for you again," my father told me as he entered my room quietly. I immediately stood up, startled by his expression.
"What is it, father?" He was starting to worry me.
"Really Draco, you must hurry! I will tell you on the way," and with that, he turned and strode out of my room.
I took several large steps to catch up with him, and once we were side by side, he spoke again. "I don't know exactly what he wants, but he isn't very happy… you haven't done anything to anger him, have you?"
I thought for a moment. In the recent battles I haven't killed any of our 'enemies,' but there are only a few who do now. Other than the battles, I haven't had any orders from You-Know-Who, so I couldn't think of a reason as to why he would be angry with me. I shook my head; I found that I couldn't speak at the moment. When I closed my eyes, Hermione's face still smiled back at me.
"Hello, young Mr. Malfoy. What a pleasure it is for you to join us. Please, have a seat," You-Know-Who gestured to a chair to the right of where he was sitting at the long table. No other people were in the room, other than my father and me, and the Dark Lord himself. When I crossed behind him to get to my seat however, I realized who the other part of the 'us' was. Nagini was coiled up underneath the long table that had taken up residence in my family's sitting room. "I trust you found the place alright?" he asked, apparently, trying to lighten the mood. I faked a smirk. I thought it was anything but amusing, since he all but took over my life and my home.
"Lucius, you may also sit, if you must." He added, glancing in the direction of my father, as if he were not worth the effort to completely turn his head to see him standing at his shoulder.
My father locked eyes with me, and obviously saw what only he could see, my fear. He knew this wasn't what I wanted. It wasn't what he wanted either, but it had to be this way, for now. With a quick nod, I assume to give me some extra courage, he sat in the chair to You-Know-Who's left, directly across from me.
I was immediately more comfortable; I could breathe a little bit now, I hadn't realized I had been holding my breath… I was still very worried about what the Dark Lord might have in store for me.
"It has come to my attention that you may have had some kind of… relationship… with someone I find," he paused, staring hard at my face. "interesting."
I swallowed. I'm not sure how he would have ever found out about Hermione, but if he did, this would probably be my last conversation with anyone. What a great way to go. I took a deep breath, attempting to calm my nerves, my face showed nothing, of course. "What exactly are you speaking about, My Lord?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Draco! I know your secrets!" You-Know-Who yelled, suddenly furious. "Don't think you can pull one over on me! You think, you, a pitiful excuse for a wizard, for a human being, can hide things from me, the most powerful wizard of all time?" He paused, obviously waiting for a response.
"Of-of course not, My Lord. I would never believe such a thing. I know very much of your greatness, My Lord. I am in awe of it, Sir," I stuttered, trying to find a way out of my blunder. If he became too angry, I might not be able to talk my way out of it.
My fear was a good enough reply for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, because he continued. "It has come to my attention that you developed some sort of friendship with one of Harry Potter's close friends while you were away at school. While this in itself is inexcusable, she was his mudblood pet, no less! What was going through your mind at the time, I've no idea, because it is the most vile thing I have ever had to imagine in my life. How could you betray me this way young Draco? How could you betray my trust this way?"
I laughed in my mind. Oh, how rich! The most evil person in the world, the man who kills whoever steps in front of him, speak to me about trust? The man who has never trusted any living sole, ever in his life, is preaching to me about the importance of trust and honesty in relationships? "My Lord, there is a simple explanation for what someone has mistakenly told you. It should have been obvious to anyone who saw me with her; I was repulsed by her very presence. She has no right to even breathe the same air as we do, My Lord. She is not worthy!" My insides were crumbling because of how I was speaking about the only person who really loved me for me. I knew it was what I had to say to stay alive though.
"What is this explanation then? The only reason I'm even giving you a chance to speak is because your family has always been so dedicated to me. You are lucky that your family hasn't been so stupid as you have been." His eyes were boring into me, I'm sure they were searching for the memories that he thought would betray me. Over the years, however, I had become skilled at changing certain memories in the presence of most people. The only time I dare let my mind wander is when I know for certain that I am alone, or when Hermione is near me.
"My Lord, I only pretended to befriend her. I thought, perhaps, the lowly mudblood would be able to give me valuable information on Potter. Information that I could in turn give to you. One day, I saw her running down a corridor at school. She was crying hysterically, looking more a mess than ever. I fought the urge to hex her, because I thought it would be the perfect moment to put my plan into action. I pretended to comfort her; I was trying to make her believe I was actually interested in the things that she was saying. I listened to her whine about the stupidest things for close to an hour. After that, I would occasionally talk to her in private, of course I wouldn't want anyone to see me with her. It wasn't anyone else's business what I was doing in hopes of gaining information for you, My Lord.
"I had several meetings with her, but they led nowhere. The mudblood is even dumber than I think anyone figured. She couldn't give me any information, even when I slipped her a truth-telling potion," I paused, outwardly appearing as if I was mulling something over in my mind. "I think Potter kept her around for… other purposes," I almost blushed, immediately ashamed of myself for implying such things about the most amazing woman I had ever met in my life.
"So you want me to believe that you were meeting with this filthy disgrace of skin, to find information on Harry Potter for my benefit?" the Dark Lord asked me, searching my face for anything that might give me away. I nodded. "And you also want me to believe that she didn't have any information to give you, after you had pretended to become her friend; her confidant?
Again I nodded. "Yes, My Lord. That is what happened. I assumed I needn't tell you about my failed plan, because it would only bring embarrassment to me, for it was so flimsy a plan to begin with. I am sorry I failed you, and made you angry with me in the process. I only hope you will give me the chance to make it up to you; a way to gain your trust back…" I looked down at the floor, lowering my face in shame.
The Dark Lord stared at me for several moments. Finally he said, "I have a mission for you. If you refuse me, I will kill you."
I looked up, almost startled by the death threat, but those were becoming commonplace in my house nowadays. He was going to send me on a mission… I thought I might have an idea about what it was, but I wasn't going to get my hopes up, especially not in front of the Dark Lord. "Yes, My Lord. I will do anything! Thank you, My Lord!"
He continued to stare at me for a few more moments, letting the suspense settle around the three of us in the large empty room. "I want you to find them. Find where Harry Potter and his mudblood and blood-traitor friends are hiding. Bring them to me here."
I only thought about the mission momentarily, making sure he knew that the details sunk in. "Yes, My Lord. Of course, My Lord. Who will you be sending with me to capture them?"
"No one, Draco. You will do this on your own. No guards or protectors. You will fail or succeed on your own this time,"
I couldn't believe this. I was going to see my love again. After so long, I would see her, and I could help her.