This story is an AU, since it completely ignores the existence of HBP and DH. It is set in Harry's seventh year. Home you'll enjoy.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter 1: SlytherinCivility
It was unusually sunny that September day when our story starts. Harry Potter was outside with his girlfriend, Ginny Weasley, looking at the lake and the Giant Squid in its lazy play in the cold lake.
"Do you think it's sad?" asked Harry, not turning his gaze away from the big creature.
"What?" came a confused reply from his red-haired companion.
"Do you think it's sad? The Giant Squid, being here all alone without a partner of its kind."
"I dunno, Harry. Maybe it's – "
"Harry!"
A figure was running towards the pair's sitting space, and when he came to an abrupt stop, he took a few seconds to catch his breath. "Harry, I'm so sorry to interrupt," he looked up apologetically at Ginny and quickly switched his gaze at the green-eyed boy, "but the Headmaster's sent for you. He wants to speak with you immediately."
Harry groaned. "Thank you, Dennis." At that, the boy nodded and left in a hurry.
"What could he possibly want now?" Harry asked, annoyed. "I can't even spend a nice Saturday by the lake without interruptions." He picked himself from the ground and sighed. "I'll see you later, Gin, OK?"
Yeah, fine," Ginny replied. "You go ahead and see what's going on. It must be something important for you to be called in at such a short notice."
"OK, see you later, Gin," Harry said, and dragged himself towards the castle of Hogwarts.
Fifteen minutes later, Harry was already saying the password to the familiar gargoyle before Dumbledore's office.
As he entered, he was surprised to hear voices. When he stepped inside, Harry saw Ron, Hermione and Draco Malfoy talking to the ancient Headmaster.
"Headmaster," Harry nodded respectfully, "Ron, Hermione. Malfoy."
"Oh, Harry, you're here. Good, then we can finally get this over with," Ron said with a disdainful look over at Malfoy's side, who was sitting away from the Gryffindors, separately on one side. Hermione threw a disapproving look at her boyfriend, but did not comment.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Potter. Please sit down." He spelled an extra chair for Harry near the Slytherin, "Tea, lemon sherbet?"
Harry shook his head to indicate a negative answer. "No, thank you."
"Well then… let us begin," Dumbledore announced somewhat ceremoniously, with a sparkle in his blue eyes.
"I'm sorry, Sir, I don't seem to understand…" said Harry after a few moments of silence. "What is it that you want from Ron, Hermione and me... and Malfoy? I'm a bit lost here…"
"Same here, Professor. What does Malfoy, of all people, have to do with any of us? We haven't done anything; we haven't lost any points…" Ron said.
"I want to tell you a story," Dumbledore began. He got up and started pacing around his office. "One which requires all of you to be present. It is of great importance that you all listen to what I have to say carefully.
He paced around a minute more, sorting through his thoughts, before finally he sat down in his chair and surveyed the room slowly.
"This is not at all easy to begin. Mr. Malfoy... I trust that you will continue as we had previously agreed upon?"
Draco nodded his head and looked away in an oddly uncharacteristic way.
"What does he have to do with anything?" Ron spat out.
"Patience, Mr. Weasley, is a virtue," Dumbledore said, looking over his half-moon spectacles at the angry redhead. The Slytherin, whose presence was questioned, stayed silent at his side.
"Let Professor Dumbledore speak, honestly, Ron," Hermione admonished.
"Thank you, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore. "Now...I trust you all remember the events in the end of your fifth year well." When all four nodded, the Headmaster continued, "It was a trying period for many of us. I had spent, unsuccessfully, much of your fifth year looking for something – a solution – to our greatest problem. Lord Voldemort, it seemed, was always one step ahead of us, if not two. During the summer after your fifth year there seemed to be nothing new and hopeful before me. I had been looking for a miracle. I had done research like I had never before. The task before me was not easy. I'm not happy to admit that I had nothing. Professor Snape's position was discovered by Voldemort and we lost a very significant spy in Voldemort's ranks.
That summer also happened to be a big initiation into Voldemort's ranks. He wanted to expand the circle of his followers. Foolishly, young boys and girls - many of them still students of this very school – entered his service. Voldemort was mistaken to admit members so young, but he could not see, blinded by his fears and hatred. On our side, the situation seemed to not be solvable.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, we defeated Voldemort. And I must, simply must tell you why."
"We all know why, Professor," Hermione interrupted. "Those books, the journals and the information you had given us. It was because of yo– "
"Not quite, Miss Granger. As I have mentioned, I had hoped to find a miracle. Alas, I had not, but it found me." Dumbledore stopped and motioned with his hand towards the young Slytherin.
"Right," Draco coughed and got up from his chair to pace around like Dumbledore had done earlier. "You're probably thinking I've gone mad or something. I haven't, of that you can be assured." Draco sat down.
"Ever since I was born, I was brought up to think a certain way and act accordingly. When you live in a family of wealth and power, you learn to get everything you want. My father was always good to me, always gave me what I wanted. I trusted his judgement without question. And I wanted to please him more than anything. What I'm trying to say is that I lived in a world where everything was perfect and where my father was always right.
The most difficult thing I have ever done was when I broke free from all of that. It was when I finally matured enough to realize in what kind of world I was living and what a fool I'd been. I don't think you can imagine… my father was talking about this thing or that, something about the Dark Lord and what I'd have to do to prove my loyalty in his service and belief in his cause. I didn't think I could ever do that. I did, eventually..." he whispered the last words.
"It was then when I had told my father I would go shopping, but instead, I had owled Professor Dumbledore from Diagon's Alley and told him everything. The beginning of sixth year, I was called to his office and we talked about my future prospects… virtually nonexistent if I decided to disobey my father openly… but I was to get my Mark that same day. I had a portkey which I had to use at midnight.
I didn't know what to do. Professor Dumbledore talked to me about my options." Draco laughed, "Fine options, indeed. I didn't want, didn't think I could, but I agreed to use the portkey and pretend like everything was just like before," he laughed a bitter laugh. "And I continued to play a part. Funny, actually, how that happened to me…" Draco trailed off.
"Anyway, I continued to use my connection to help in any way possible. It was the most terrible experience in my life. Well… second most terrible, actually…" Draco coughed.
I didn't want anyone to know. No one, especially the Golden Trio. Professor Dumbledore got me a job. I must have copied a hundred books from Father's library and asked a million questions, along with the reports… They never suspected. I was just young and eager to know everything about the Dark Lord's greatness. Pathetic.
I guess everything I found out paid off in the end because we found a way to kill him without too much damage to the good party, and we had saved some lives."
"Wait, wait… so what you're saying is that, essentially, you found the spell Harry used on Voldemort?" Hermione asked, astonished.
"No, Professor Dumbledore did that. I gave him the material."
"Wow." Hermione said.
"Granger, are you speechless?!" Malfoy smirked.
"I guess I am, Malfoy. I would have never thought–"
"I don't believe it! You tell us all of his and what now? Do you expect us to love you and worship you forever for being a git and terrorizing us for five straight years, Malfoy? Do you want us to kiss the hem of your robes in gratitude now? Just because you got cold feet and ran away from your little gang doesn't mean –"
"Shut it, Ron! Don't be like that. Harry was right, can't you see? He knew all along that Malfoy was up to something," Hermione turned to Draco, "I would have never expected something like this from you. I want you to know that you have my gratitude regardless of previous issues between us."
"Thank you, Granger. Don't be overdramatic, Weasley. I don't expect anything. I know what a bastard I've been. But I am sorry. I had a whole year to reflect on that and grow up. People DO change and they do realize they made mistakes. You never deserved to be treated the way I had treated you. I don't expect us to be buddy-buddy all of a sudden, but I'd like to try to change the relationship between us. If it's not such a trouble to you, Weasley."
The tips of Ron's ears went red. "I don't know about that, Malfoy. You've insulted me and my family how many times. Do you think I could simply forget that just because you apologized?!"
"Not forget, but you could maybe try with forgiving. Don't think it's something I really need you to do. I apologized and I'm truly sorry. However, I'll live without your forgiveness, too, you know. My life continues."
"Joy. I'm so happy for you, Malfoy," Ron said sarcastically.
"Now, now, boy," Dumbledore cut in. "Please stop arguing. It's a fine day outside. You have a lot to say to each other. There could be a great friendship in the making."
Draco and Ron seriously doubted that.
"We've all made mistakes in our lives. Seventeen is too young an age to be resentful and hold grudges like these. Friendship, and love, can be found in the most unexpected of places. It is on us to forgive those who are sincere and look brightly into the future."
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said sincerely. "I'd like to talk to you, Malfoy. I want to hear more about the research you'd done."
"Sure, Granger."
"If we're gonna be friends… or something… then you'd better call me Hermione."
"You can call me Draco, too," he held his hand out for her and she shook it firmly in an agreement.
"Oh for Merlin's sake, you're impossible," Ron sighed.
"Have you grown nothing, Ronald Bilius Weasley?" Hermione admonished. "Stop being so petty and childish! You fought in a war and you're of age, but I don't see you acting accordingly!"
"Uh, oh, time to run, Weasley. You're being yelled at by your girlfriend," Draco snickered.
"Shut up, Malfoy," Ron yelled and went red.
From the far end of the room, there came a laugh. Harry was standing by the window, turned to look outside the window and no one had noticed him getting up.
"Harry! I completely forgot you were here. You haven't uttered a single word," Hermione noticed.
"No, I haven't."
"How do you feel about this, Harry?" she asked.
Harry walked up to Draco and whispered, "I knew you were up to something." And with a single 'Excuse me' he was out of the room.
Seeing Draco's astonished look, Hermione explained, "He just needs some time alone to think about this. When we started sixth year, Harry told Ron and me that you were 'up to something', but we just laughed him off. He was paranoid. Then, one day, he saw you going to Professor Dumbledore's office. He followed you a couple times and we figured out you were meeting. He told us, but we didn't take it too seriously. I think that's when… that's when everything changed. He didn't think you were up to anything bad. He didn't tell us, but I think he hoped you changed sides. I don't know what was going around his head exactly…"
"You're saying that he was stalking me?" Draco asked.
"No, not really... he was just a little bit…"
"Bloody obsessed!" Ron continued. "He kept talking about you. Malfoy this and Malfoy that! I was relieved when he started dating Ginny so he had another thing to think about, really…"
"I think Harry is happy to hear this. Just give him a bit of time," Hermione explained.
Harry would often sit by the lake now. Ever since last year, it's been a habit of his. He liked the calm and the open space. It gave him the illusion of freedom He also came here to think. He thought about many things, but there were some things which invaded his train of thought frequently. It seemed to be Draco Malfoy, as of late.
"What happens now?" asked a voice, making Harry up from his reverie. He turned around and noticed he was no longer alone.
"I don't know, Malfoy," Harry replied. Maybe you could enlighten me, because I'm coming up blank."
Draco sighed and laid himself to Harry's right side. "I was hoping we could at least try to be civil to each other. Now that you know I'm on your side, we could stop keeping up with this…hostility."
"We haven't kept up with this hostility since last year, Malfoy. You're still yourself, though. The fact that you've changed sides doesn't mean you had an extreme personality makeover."
"No, it doesn't . I'm still a Slytherin and I'm still as gorgeous as ever –"
"And as modest as ever, I see!" Harry chuckled.
"Really, Potter, do you know nothing?"
"Harry, my name's Harry," he corrected.
"OK then, Harry." Draco smirked. "Friends?" He held out his hand for the second time to Harry and this time the Gryffindor boy took it in a firm grasp.
"Friends," Harry repeated. "But what about your parents? Haven't you thought about it?"
"Of course I have. And I don't care. They can go to hell, for all I care. Father's in Azkaban, as you know. Mother… I…I don't need to keep up the pretense. I'm pretending enough, I don't need another thing to lie about or hide. If anyone has any problem with me, then let them. I'm safe, at least in here."
"Are you sure?"
"I am."
It seemed to have gone forever before either one of the boys spoke again. The day was slowly giving in to the night when words found them again.
"So, what do I hear about you stalking me?" Draco laughed and raised his eyebrow.
"Argh," Harry groaned and blushed. "That must have come from Ron. He has this ridiculous idea – I did not stalk you! I was only –"
"Following me around all the time, talking about me nonstop… if I didn't know any better, Harry, I'd say you were a member of my fan club."
"You do not have a fan club!"
"What if I do?" Draco laughed, "Would you be jealous that I'm stealing your members?"
"I do not have a – oh," Harry stopped.
"Yes, you do."
"You can have it, Draco."
The Slytherin boy smiled, but said nothing.
"What?" Harry asked curiously.
"Nothing," he replied. "It's only… you just called me Draco."
"It's your name, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is, Draco said and propped himself up on the elbows to look at the sky. Harry followed.
"It's late. I think we should go. We missed dinner," Harry explained.
"Shit! We did," Draco yelled. "Potter, you're a bad influence. I don't think we should hang out anymore."
"If there's anyone who could say this, then it's me," Harry smiled. "I'm the Golden Boy, remember?"
"Right, you are. What was I thinking?" Draco asked, getting up from the ground and holding his hand out to help Harry.
"You were thinking wrong. You're the sly Slytherin," Harry explained and took Draco's outstretched hand.
"Why, thank you!" Draco laughed.
"I don't think that was a compliment, Malfoy,"
"No, I'm sure it wasn't," Draco said and they walked together towards the grand entrance of Hogwarts.