1 Chapter 2
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too; -
Rudyard Kipling
Harry was utterly speechless. Malfoy? His worst enemy? He tried to close his gaping mouth as Draco made his way slowly into the room, as cold and snobbish as ever. Harry then turned, gaping, to Dumbledore, waiting for an explanation. Dumbledore got the point.
'Right Harry, I can see a little more explanation is needed.' At this there was a snort from Draco.
'You see Harry, Slytherin managed to persuade the holder of Merlin's power at the time that he could provide them with more scope for their power. He tricked them. Somehow, and we don't really know how, Slytherin managed to harness the powers of that wizard, and to duplicate them. He was jealous you see, jealous of the power that this line of wizards could generate. He was determined to produce a line of his own, a line that would battle those who had inherited Merlin's legacy, to continue the battle for the dark side. Slytherin planned it so his own power would passed on through his direct descendants, and also that one carefully chosen ancestor would inherit the gifts which he had stolen from Merlin.'
'As you might have guessed Harry, you, being directly descended from Merlin, have inherited his original legacy. Draco, being the most recent ancestor of Slytherin, has received the powers which Slytherin worked so hard to pass on.'
'But then why aren't they being used for the dark side?' asked Harry, with a suspicious glance in Draco's direction.
'Well Harry, Slytherin wasn't prepared for what was to occur after his death. Around the middle of the middle ages, Slytherins ancestor, Marcus Dracona, was engaged in a battle with the opposing Merlin descendant. Her name was Romana Fallony, one of the greatest seers the world has ever known, to don't mention that to professor Trelawney. Anyway, Marcus and Romana met for the battle which was the usual result of the war between good and bad. Marcus killed Romana in that battle, but before she died, she managed to make a prophecy, a prophecy which is already beginning to come true.'
'And the prophecy was?'
At this question, Dumbledore voice changed, it took on an ancient, echoing quality, the sound reverberated off the walls, ringing the chamber with his words. The faces of everyone else became a mere blur to Harry, who was aware of only himself, and the words that Dumbledore was saying.
'Many years from now, when the evil battles good to drain on the society of magic, there will be a change. The survivor will delay the battle. The moon will leave its past and destiny behind. These two shall unite to form the brothers of the legacy, and together, they shall bring the absolute end to the dark side. The survivor shall conquer the snake, and the moon will conquer his demons. This is written, this shall be'.
Dumbledore finished speaking, and Harry again became aware of everyone else in the room. He found himself looking into the eyes of Sirius, and tried to find what was hidden within them. He could see pride, fear, anxiety, maybe even love? Harry didn't know what to make of the last one, he had never really known love, and was scared to experience it. Love would only lead Voldemort to use it against him, to hurt the people he cared about. If Harry had to live without love to avoid more people getting hurt, then he was prepared to do it.
He could hardly believe it, but he actually felt calm, as though this shocking revelation was something he had always known about. Even stranger still, something convinced Harry that some part of him had always known.
When Dumbledore peered into his face again, Harry found himself for the first time, meeting those twinkling blue eyes with a steady, even gaze of his own, which in itself convinced Dumbledore that he had no more questions. He therefore sat down at the circular table, and Harry followed suit, sitting reluctantly next to Draco.
'Now that we all know what is needed to be known, let us begin our meeting. Sirius, what news do you have.'
Sirius rose, and Harry was immensely relieved to see that nobody round the table was looking at Sirius with any fear or mistrust. He assumed that those in the order were convinced of Sirius' innocence. Sirius cleared his throat and spoke.
'Sorry Dumbledore, no real news as of yet. We are quite certain that he has set up his base somewhere in Kent, but we have to be careful about finding out just where, don't want him finding out and moving again. But if we.'
Sirius was interrupted by Draco standing up abruptly and speaking clearly, a note of distain lingering in his voice.
'Voldemort is currently residing in the sparrows nest, just south of Kent.'
This news brought gasps from the group, though Harry wasn't sure whether this was at the news which Draco had just given, or the suspicion of how he had obtained this information. His thoughts were answered when Remus Lupin stood up.
'Surely you don't mean there, that is where Dedalus Diggle lives, him and his family. And I can promise you now, the Diggles are not death eaters.'
'No,' said Draco, the shafts of moonlight shining over his head. 'They're not death eaters. They're dead.'
More gasps came at this statement, along with a general rush of loss and grief at the Diggles deaths.
'I knew Dedalus, I went to school with them. So innocent, he loved a good time, he had to spoil it.'
'He had 3 children, 3 pretty little children, and they're dead? All of them, all the pretty little ones?'
Harry tried to stop listening to the words, so many horrible things, such a horrible tragedy, and again at the hands of Voldemort. Was it his fault again?
He instead focused on Malfoy. Something had changed in his voice when he had said those words, it was almost as if something in him had broken. What was it? He looked across at the boys face, and his jaw nearly dropped again, because Draco had his head in his hands, looking as though the weight of the world had just fallen in upon his shoulders.
'Tell us!' Shouted Sirius above the noise. 'Tell us what happened, why it happened'.
At this the room fell silent, as everyone again stared at the boy with the silvery hair, shaking his head and shifting in his seat. Surprisingly, it was Dumbledore who answered.
'That I am afraid, is something we are not able to discuss at the moment. Perhaps later down the line, when Mister Malfoy is ready.'
'Dumbledore, we have to know, the Diggles were close friends of all of us.'
'Shut up Black, leave Malfoy alone.'
Heads again turned, this time in the direction of the new voice. Harry was not surprised to see that it belonged to Severus Snape. His beetle black eyes were glittering with malice, and his voice carried a subtle hint of a threat. Harry turned again, and saw Draco staring at his head of house in gratitude. He was about to sake his head, then he realised that, were he in Draco's position, he would look to Sirius for help.
Sirius however, was glaring at Snape in loathing. Harry was almost frightened to see his face, for it was the face that Harry had looked upon the first time he had met Sirius, when he had thought him to be the murderer of his parents.
'Nobody asked your opinion Snape.' Sirius spat out the word as if it were some sort of dreadful disease. Both Sirius and Snape were now seething at each other; Lupin was preparing to hold Sirius back. Dumbledore then decided to put a stop to the bickering. He rose again, clapping his hands.
'Now now, may I remind you all that we are fighting for the same cause, we should be united. If we are not united, how are we ever to stand a chance against the enemy? All of you, you must realise that Draco here has given up everything to unite with us, to fight with us. He has shown bravery, and incredible courage, and that should be enough for all of you. Please do not question him. Do not judge him because of where he has come from, judge him for what he is.'
The members of the order murmured their agreement, some looking slightly abashed by Dumbledores words. Draco, Harry noticed, had gone slightly pinkish in colour, at hearing such praise from a man he had criticised for four years.
'Now, let us mourn the loss of the Diggles, and continue in our quest to save others who may follow. We must remember the fall of every one of us, as it will spur us on our quest. We have to defeat the dark side. If not for ourselves, but for the Diggles, and the others who may lose their lives in defence of what is good and what is right.'
Harry thought back to Cedric, and swallowed hard.
'I think it wise to end the meeting on that note, if there are no other points of business?' The order members shook their heads to say no.
'Right then, that is all. Harry, can I see you now for a moment? And could Severus wait outside for a bit, I must speak with you both.'
With that, the members of the order stood up, and moved towards the doorway, to where, Harry could only guess. Sirius came past him and bent over, saying 'I'll wait for you outside Harry'. Then he closed the door, leaving Harry and Dumbledore alone in the room.
'Well Harry, needless to say you have had a bit of a shock tonight, you looked a little dazed for a while.' Moustache quivering, Dumbledore perched on the ridge of the table.
Harry thrust his hands into his pockets, beginning to remember just how observant Dumbledore could be. 'Um, yeah sir.' He mumbled.
'Don't worry Harry; it's a lot to take on board. Are you ready to accept your task, and work together with Draco?'
Harry thought for a moment. Could he and Draco really work together? The prophecy had called them 'the brothers of the legacy', though it was remarkably scary to think of himself and Draco as brothers. Yet something was different about him now, something in the way he spoke and moved reminded Harry of a man who had been pushed to the edge, and who had dragged themselves back, no matter what the cost to himself. He made a decision.
'Yes professor, I think I can work with Draco.'
'Good Harry, very good. The two of you will need each other to talk to, what with Draco's, experience, and the attack on your home.'
'Are they all dead, professor?' Harry asked, an odd note in his voice.
Dumbledore sighed, the worn crags in his face flickering in the moonlight. 'Yes Harry, I'm afraid they are. When Lucius Malfoy realised that you had gone, they found your aunt and cousin waiting outside the kitchen door. I know it may be of no comfort to you, but their deaths were very quick, and painless. I'm so sorry Harry, this must be very hard for you.'
Harry said nothing, his mind was spinning. That was it, his entire family had been wiped out, simply because they were related to him. No, he said to himself, love was no longer allowed. It was merely a curse for him.
He replied to Dumbledore, letting his eyes give nothing away. 'They shouldn't have died.'
Dumbledore nodded. Harry wasn't sure whether he had accepted what Harry had said as his true feelings, but he was grateful that Dumbledore was prepared to leave it at that. He wasn't overly saddened by the Dursleys deaths, but it was true, they should not have died.
'Is there anything else professor?'
'Yes Harry, its about the arrangements for this year. I'm afraid you can no longer sleep in the Gryffindor dormitories. There is a room adjacent to the phoenix dungeon for your and Draco's personal use, and that is where you shall be sleeping. You are in every way still a Gryffindor Harry, don't forget that. You will still be earning house points and playing quidditch. You have been elected prefect this year as well, by your teachers. The reason you and Draco will be sharing rooms is merely a matter of convenience, it will allow you to easily make your way to the phoenix dungeon, without attracting attention. You shouldn't have to put that much energy into schoolwork this year, your new powers should make it seem quite easy.'
'Professor,' Harry interrupted, 'What about Ron and Hermione?'
'What about them Harry? You can still see them in your free time, I very much doubt that we could stop you being friends with them. I must ask that you do not mention to them anything about the order, it may put them in danger. Miss Granger I'm sure, will in time work out your involvement in Voldemorts downfall, but until then, I think it best not to say anything about that either.'
Harry nodded. What Dumbledore said was true, telling Ron and Hermione about everything would only put them at more risk. He couldn't tell them, even if they were his best friends.
'Right then Harry, I think that is all. If you make your way to your new accommodation, I'm sure Draco will be happy to show you around.'
Harry shuddered at the thought, and opened the dungeon door. He was greeted by venomous shouting, coming from Snape and Sirius.
'You utter Bastard Snape, you slimy little git!'
'Just because I don't worship the ground Potter walks on Black! You were just the same with his father, always sticking up for that arrogant, big headed idiot.'
'Take that back!'
'One of these days Black, you are going to find yourself in a lot of trouble, just from knowing Potter. How are you going to be able to defend him when you're dead? He has that problem you know, I call it a lack of people skills.'
'How dare you! Harry is going to save us all.'
'Potter is going to kill us all! The sooner you realise that, the better!'
Dumbledore surged past Harry, looking furious. Before he even had a chance to get between the two men, Sirius had pulled his fist back, and slammed it so hard into Snapes face that he had fallen to the ground, out cold.
It was then that Sirius looked up, noticing Dumbledore, and then looking past to se Harry. His face was stricken, and there was absolute desolation in his emerald green eyes. Sirius felt his heart plummeting, as though someone had just thrown it off the top of a building. He started forward.
'Harry, I'm so sorry, don't listen to Snape, you know he's a prick.' Dumbledore moved silently out the way, levitating Snape with his wand and leading him down the corridor.
Dumbledores departure jerked Harry into life, he yanked his head upwards, and tried feebly to smile.
'Of course he's a prick Sirius, I don't listen to him ever. He's always had something against me.'
There was something in Harry's manner that told Sirius he wasn't being entirely truthful.
'You know there's no truth in what Snape said, it's not your fault Harry, none of this is. Me and the order, we all believe that.'
'It isn't my fault Sirius, but I am the reason that these things happen, aren't I?'
To this Sirius had no answer. He longed to do something to help, to lift Harry's shoulders just a bit, to see some sort of smile on that weary face. He cursed Pettigrew again for putting him in Azkaban, for denying him that chance to convince Harry that he did have a family that cared.
Harry tried to change the subject, he asked an outright question.
'Where were you this summer Sirius, you said you'd come and see me again soon, but there were no letters, no calls, nothing.'
This time Sirius felt torn apart by guilt, seeing the hurt that now shone out of Harry's beacon like eyes. So many times this summer, he had prepared to apparate to Privet Drive, to send an owl, to show some sign to Harry. Yet every time, Remus had held him back. Had told him that he couldn't do anything to jeopardise their hiding spot, to give anything away to Voldemort or the Ministry. He searched for the words to explain this to Harry, but then he realised, there was no excuse, he should have found a way.
'I'm so sorry Harry.'
'It's alright Sirius, I know you were busy, I was just being selfish.' Even to Harry's ears his voice sounded strained. Sirius winced visibly.
'I'm tired Sirius, I'm going to bed. I guess I'll see you in the morning.' With that Harry opened and closed the door behind him, leaving Sirius facing a wall, and feeling desperate with guilt.
Harry steeped fully into the room, and was almost pleasantly surprised. There were two stuffed, comfy armchairs plonked round a crackling fireplace, and between them a small table. In the corners on the room were large four-poster beds, similar to those of his old dormitory, with his suitcase already there for him. Along the side of the room was what Harry guessed to be a gigantic walk in wardrobe, probably to house Draco's large range of clothes. The room was bathed in an amber light, and was really in Harry's opinion quite welcoming. There was another door on the wall, leading to what was unmistakeably a bathroom.
Harry came round to the armchairs, and collapsed into one, briefly registering the presence of Draco Malfoy in the other armchair. Draco leaned back, the malicious smirk firmly in place on his face.
'So Potter, you and me working together, just don't start calling me brother, I don't want the wrong sort of people getting the wrong sort of ideas.'
'Just what do you mean by that Malfoy?' Harry's voice had an almost dangerous edge to it.
'Well, hearing what's happened to the other members of your uh, family, I don't really want to find myself in that position.' Draco had barely a moment to smirk in triumph before Harry went berserk.
'That's it, you and me Malfoy, are going to sort out this problem, right now! You are going to tell me why you have spent four years going out your way to be a complete bastard to me, and why you feel it right to bring up the one thing in the world which tortures me the most. What gives you the bloody right to do that, to laugh at those who have had everyone they have ever called family taken away from them.'
Draco felt his own blood beginning to boil, and he too raised himself from the chair.
'You want to know why I behave like I do, do you? Why shouldn't I go out my way to put down perfect, good Harry Potter, nobody else bloody does. What gives me the right to say that to you, well imagine this. Imagine having a family, a family who do love you, and having to give them up of your own free will, just imagine it! And you want to know why I can say one nice, friendly thing to you, just remember, I did once, and you threw it back in my face!'
Both boys stood facing each other, each scarlet in the face with anger. Harry was struck by a sudden realisation. All this bitterness, all this meanness, all of it had stemmed from Draco's hurt when Harry had refused his friendship, when Harry had refused to shook his hand. Draco had spent 4 years trying to make up for that one humiliation. Harry could feel the anger evaporating.
'Malfoy, tell me what happened at the Diggles.'
Draco then let it out, he didn't know why, maybe it was an eagerness to get it off his chest, maybe to tell it to someone who might understand what he was going through.
'It was my fault, all of it. My dad took me with him that night, told me that my time had come, that it was a special day in the Malfoy house. He took us to the Diggles house, there were a group of death eaters outside. They said they were going to make it their base, their headquarters. We went inside, to meet him, to meet Voldemort.' Draco froze, remembering painful memories, then continued.
He told me that he knew what I was, said that him and me were the same, broke from the same mould. He asked if I was ready to join him, at his right hand side, to bring down Potter, you'
'And I said no, I don't know why, that was the moment I had waited for all my life, but something inside me told me I couldn't do it. He said he thought that I needed persuading, then he brought out the Diggles.' With that, Harry could see a tear forming in the corner of Draco's eye, and yet still he continued.
'My father came forward, told him I knew the killing curse, that I would join him, or I would lose my family and friends. So he offered me a choice, kill the Diggles myself, or have him do it in a more painful way.'
Harry tried to interrupt. 'Malfoy, it's ok, you don't have to tell me'.
But Draco wasn't listening , he kept on going.
'They brought Diggle first. I still said I wouldn't do it, that I couldn't do it. So Voldemort, he exploded him, right in front of us all, in front of his family, and then he laughed, laughed at the mess he had made.'
Harry felt sick.
'He asked again, I still said no, and then he started with the children. I was shaking by then, I'd been sick, it only made him laugh more. The last one to go was the smallest child, only 5 years old, and Voldemort suffocated her with thin air, he made it slow, painful, all because I couldn't end it for her, I was too cowardly.' The tears began to fall freely from Draco's eyes, Harry could feel his own eyes watering.
'And then I snapped, things started to fly round the room, hitting the death eaters, they were all very confused. I apparated away, landed on Hogwarts front lawn, right in front of Dumbledore. I told him I wanted to do everything I could to help him, that I was on his side. Your side. That was a week ago, I've been here since.'
With that, Draco finished, his breath coming in rasps. Harry rose, knowing exactly what to do, and held his hand out to Draco, his own voice hoarse.
'Hello, Pleased to meet you Draco Malfoy, I'm looking forward to working with you for the order of phoenix. Care to get to know me better, I feel we could be quite good friends, my name's Harry Potter by the way.'
Draco looked at Harry for a moment as if he were mad, then he seized his hand with an eagerness Harry hadn't expected, pulling Harry back down into his seat. Then Draco leaned forward, a gleam in his eye.
'Not the Harry Potter?'
The following morning, Sirius Black and Albus Dumbledore pushed open the door to the boy's bedroom cautiously, expecting to find utter chaos. To their eternal surprise, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were still up, still in their chairs, engaged in a conversation about the uselessness of Professor Trelawney.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and the boys looked up.
'I'm sorry boys, but again I have bad news, concerning Mister Fudge.'
'What has he done now professor?'
'He is dead Harry, and his replacement is Lucius Malfoy.'
Disclaimer: Alas, this story is merely a cheap rip off of Miss Rowlings Creations, and the poem is Kipling's. I own nothing, dammit.
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too; -
Rudyard Kipling
Harry was utterly speechless. Malfoy? His worst enemy? He tried to close his gaping mouth as Draco made his way slowly into the room, as cold and snobbish as ever. Harry then turned, gaping, to Dumbledore, waiting for an explanation. Dumbledore got the point.
'Right Harry, I can see a little more explanation is needed.' At this there was a snort from Draco.
'You see Harry, Slytherin managed to persuade the holder of Merlin's power at the time that he could provide them with more scope for their power. He tricked them. Somehow, and we don't really know how, Slytherin managed to harness the powers of that wizard, and to duplicate them. He was jealous you see, jealous of the power that this line of wizards could generate. He was determined to produce a line of his own, a line that would battle those who had inherited Merlin's legacy, to continue the battle for the dark side. Slytherin planned it so his own power would passed on through his direct descendants, and also that one carefully chosen ancestor would inherit the gifts which he had stolen from Merlin.'
'As you might have guessed Harry, you, being directly descended from Merlin, have inherited his original legacy. Draco, being the most recent ancestor of Slytherin, has received the powers which Slytherin worked so hard to pass on.'
'But then why aren't they being used for the dark side?' asked Harry, with a suspicious glance in Draco's direction.
'Well Harry, Slytherin wasn't prepared for what was to occur after his death. Around the middle of the middle ages, Slytherins ancestor, Marcus Dracona, was engaged in a battle with the opposing Merlin descendant. Her name was Romana Fallony, one of the greatest seers the world has ever known, to don't mention that to professor Trelawney. Anyway, Marcus and Romana met for the battle which was the usual result of the war between good and bad. Marcus killed Romana in that battle, but before she died, she managed to make a prophecy, a prophecy which is already beginning to come true.'
'And the prophecy was?'
At this question, Dumbledore voice changed, it took on an ancient, echoing quality, the sound reverberated off the walls, ringing the chamber with his words. The faces of everyone else became a mere blur to Harry, who was aware of only himself, and the words that Dumbledore was saying.
'Many years from now, when the evil battles good to drain on the society of magic, there will be a change. The survivor will delay the battle. The moon will leave its past and destiny behind. These two shall unite to form the brothers of the legacy, and together, they shall bring the absolute end to the dark side. The survivor shall conquer the snake, and the moon will conquer his demons. This is written, this shall be'.
Dumbledore finished speaking, and Harry again became aware of everyone else in the room. He found himself looking into the eyes of Sirius, and tried to find what was hidden within them. He could see pride, fear, anxiety, maybe even love? Harry didn't know what to make of the last one, he had never really known love, and was scared to experience it. Love would only lead Voldemort to use it against him, to hurt the people he cared about. If Harry had to live without love to avoid more people getting hurt, then he was prepared to do it.
He could hardly believe it, but he actually felt calm, as though this shocking revelation was something he had always known about. Even stranger still, something convinced Harry that some part of him had always known.
When Dumbledore peered into his face again, Harry found himself for the first time, meeting those twinkling blue eyes with a steady, even gaze of his own, which in itself convinced Dumbledore that he had no more questions. He therefore sat down at the circular table, and Harry followed suit, sitting reluctantly next to Draco.
'Now that we all know what is needed to be known, let us begin our meeting. Sirius, what news do you have.'
Sirius rose, and Harry was immensely relieved to see that nobody round the table was looking at Sirius with any fear or mistrust. He assumed that those in the order were convinced of Sirius' innocence. Sirius cleared his throat and spoke.
'Sorry Dumbledore, no real news as of yet. We are quite certain that he has set up his base somewhere in Kent, but we have to be careful about finding out just where, don't want him finding out and moving again. But if we.'
Sirius was interrupted by Draco standing up abruptly and speaking clearly, a note of distain lingering in his voice.
'Voldemort is currently residing in the sparrows nest, just south of Kent.'
This news brought gasps from the group, though Harry wasn't sure whether this was at the news which Draco had just given, or the suspicion of how he had obtained this information. His thoughts were answered when Remus Lupin stood up.
'Surely you don't mean there, that is where Dedalus Diggle lives, him and his family. And I can promise you now, the Diggles are not death eaters.'
'No,' said Draco, the shafts of moonlight shining over his head. 'They're not death eaters. They're dead.'
More gasps came at this statement, along with a general rush of loss and grief at the Diggles deaths.
'I knew Dedalus, I went to school with them. So innocent, he loved a good time, he had to spoil it.'
'He had 3 children, 3 pretty little children, and they're dead? All of them, all the pretty little ones?'
Harry tried to stop listening to the words, so many horrible things, such a horrible tragedy, and again at the hands of Voldemort. Was it his fault again?
He instead focused on Malfoy. Something had changed in his voice when he had said those words, it was almost as if something in him had broken. What was it? He looked across at the boys face, and his jaw nearly dropped again, because Draco had his head in his hands, looking as though the weight of the world had just fallen in upon his shoulders.
'Tell us!' Shouted Sirius above the noise. 'Tell us what happened, why it happened'.
At this the room fell silent, as everyone again stared at the boy with the silvery hair, shaking his head and shifting in his seat. Surprisingly, it was Dumbledore who answered.
'That I am afraid, is something we are not able to discuss at the moment. Perhaps later down the line, when Mister Malfoy is ready.'
'Dumbledore, we have to know, the Diggles were close friends of all of us.'
'Shut up Black, leave Malfoy alone.'
Heads again turned, this time in the direction of the new voice. Harry was not surprised to see that it belonged to Severus Snape. His beetle black eyes were glittering with malice, and his voice carried a subtle hint of a threat. Harry turned again, and saw Draco staring at his head of house in gratitude. He was about to sake his head, then he realised that, were he in Draco's position, he would look to Sirius for help.
Sirius however, was glaring at Snape in loathing. Harry was almost frightened to see his face, for it was the face that Harry had looked upon the first time he had met Sirius, when he had thought him to be the murderer of his parents.
'Nobody asked your opinion Snape.' Sirius spat out the word as if it were some sort of dreadful disease. Both Sirius and Snape were now seething at each other; Lupin was preparing to hold Sirius back. Dumbledore then decided to put a stop to the bickering. He rose again, clapping his hands.
'Now now, may I remind you all that we are fighting for the same cause, we should be united. If we are not united, how are we ever to stand a chance against the enemy? All of you, you must realise that Draco here has given up everything to unite with us, to fight with us. He has shown bravery, and incredible courage, and that should be enough for all of you. Please do not question him. Do not judge him because of where he has come from, judge him for what he is.'
The members of the order murmured their agreement, some looking slightly abashed by Dumbledores words. Draco, Harry noticed, had gone slightly pinkish in colour, at hearing such praise from a man he had criticised for four years.
'Now, let us mourn the loss of the Diggles, and continue in our quest to save others who may follow. We must remember the fall of every one of us, as it will spur us on our quest. We have to defeat the dark side. If not for ourselves, but for the Diggles, and the others who may lose their lives in defence of what is good and what is right.'
Harry thought back to Cedric, and swallowed hard.
'I think it wise to end the meeting on that note, if there are no other points of business?' The order members shook their heads to say no.
'Right then, that is all. Harry, can I see you now for a moment? And could Severus wait outside for a bit, I must speak with you both.'
With that, the members of the order stood up, and moved towards the doorway, to where, Harry could only guess. Sirius came past him and bent over, saying 'I'll wait for you outside Harry'. Then he closed the door, leaving Harry and Dumbledore alone in the room.
'Well Harry, needless to say you have had a bit of a shock tonight, you looked a little dazed for a while.' Moustache quivering, Dumbledore perched on the ridge of the table.
Harry thrust his hands into his pockets, beginning to remember just how observant Dumbledore could be. 'Um, yeah sir.' He mumbled.
'Don't worry Harry; it's a lot to take on board. Are you ready to accept your task, and work together with Draco?'
Harry thought for a moment. Could he and Draco really work together? The prophecy had called them 'the brothers of the legacy', though it was remarkably scary to think of himself and Draco as brothers. Yet something was different about him now, something in the way he spoke and moved reminded Harry of a man who had been pushed to the edge, and who had dragged themselves back, no matter what the cost to himself. He made a decision.
'Yes professor, I think I can work with Draco.'
'Good Harry, very good. The two of you will need each other to talk to, what with Draco's, experience, and the attack on your home.'
'Are they all dead, professor?' Harry asked, an odd note in his voice.
Dumbledore sighed, the worn crags in his face flickering in the moonlight. 'Yes Harry, I'm afraid they are. When Lucius Malfoy realised that you had gone, they found your aunt and cousin waiting outside the kitchen door. I know it may be of no comfort to you, but their deaths were very quick, and painless. I'm so sorry Harry, this must be very hard for you.'
Harry said nothing, his mind was spinning. That was it, his entire family had been wiped out, simply because they were related to him. No, he said to himself, love was no longer allowed. It was merely a curse for him.
He replied to Dumbledore, letting his eyes give nothing away. 'They shouldn't have died.'
Dumbledore nodded. Harry wasn't sure whether he had accepted what Harry had said as his true feelings, but he was grateful that Dumbledore was prepared to leave it at that. He wasn't overly saddened by the Dursleys deaths, but it was true, they should not have died.
'Is there anything else professor?'
'Yes Harry, its about the arrangements for this year. I'm afraid you can no longer sleep in the Gryffindor dormitories. There is a room adjacent to the phoenix dungeon for your and Draco's personal use, and that is where you shall be sleeping. You are in every way still a Gryffindor Harry, don't forget that. You will still be earning house points and playing quidditch. You have been elected prefect this year as well, by your teachers. The reason you and Draco will be sharing rooms is merely a matter of convenience, it will allow you to easily make your way to the phoenix dungeon, without attracting attention. You shouldn't have to put that much energy into schoolwork this year, your new powers should make it seem quite easy.'
'Professor,' Harry interrupted, 'What about Ron and Hermione?'
'What about them Harry? You can still see them in your free time, I very much doubt that we could stop you being friends with them. I must ask that you do not mention to them anything about the order, it may put them in danger. Miss Granger I'm sure, will in time work out your involvement in Voldemorts downfall, but until then, I think it best not to say anything about that either.'
Harry nodded. What Dumbledore said was true, telling Ron and Hermione about everything would only put them at more risk. He couldn't tell them, even if they were his best friends.
'Right then Harry, I think that is all. If you make your way to your new accommodation, I'm sure Draco will be happy to show you around.'
Harry shuddered at the thought, and opened the dungeon door. He was greeted by venomous shouting, coming from Snape and Sirius.
'You utter Bastard Snape, you slimy little git!'
'Just because I don't worship the ground Potter walks on Black! You were just the same with his father, always sticking up for that arrogant, big headed idiot.'
'Take that back!'
'One of these days Black, you are going to find yourself in a lot of trouble, just from knowing Potter. How are you going to be able to defend him when you're dead? He has that problem you know, I call it a lack of people skills.'
'How dare you! Harry is going to save us all.'
'Potter is going to kill us all! The sooner you realise that, the better!'
Dumbledore surged past Harry, looking furious. Before he even had a chance to get between the two men, Sirius had pulled his fist back, and slammed it so hard into Snapes face that he had fallen to the ground, out cold.
It was then that Sirius looked up, noticing Dumbledore, and then looking past to se Harry. His face was stricken, and there was absolute desolation in his emerald green eyes. Sirius felt his heart plummeting, as though someone had just thrown it off the top of a building. He started forward.
'Harry, I'm so sorry, don't listen to Snape, you know he's a prick.' Dumbledore moved silently out the way, levitating Snape with his wand and leading him down the corridor.
Dumbledores departure jerked Harry into life, he yanked his head upwards, and tried feebly to smile.
'Of course he's a prick Sirius, I don't listen to him ever. He's always had something against me.'
There was something in Harry's manner that told Sirius he wasn't being entirely truthful.
'You know there's no truth in what Snape said, it's not your fault Harry, none of this is. Me and the order, we all believe that.'
'It isn't my fault Sirius, but I am the reason that these things happen, aren't I?'
To this Sirius had no answer. He longed to do something to help, to lift Harry's shoulders just a bit, to see some sort of smile on that weary face. He cursed Pettigrew again for putting him in Azkaban, for denying him that chance to convince Harry that he did have a family that cared.
Harry tried to change the subject, he asked an outright question.
'Where were you this summer Sirius, you said you'd come and see me again soon, but there were no letters, no calls, nothing.'
This time Sirius felt torn apart by guilt, seeing the hurt that now shone out of Harry's beacon like eyes. So many times this summer, he had prepared to apparate to Privet Drive, to send an owl, to show some sign to Harry. Yet every time, Remus had held him back. Had told him that he couldn't do anything to jeopardise their hiding spot, to give anything away to Voldemort or the Ministry. He searched for the words to explain this to Harry, but then he realised, there was no excuse, he should have found a way.
'I'm so sorry Harry.'
'It's alright Sirius, I know you were busy, I was just being selfish.' Even to Harry's ears his voice sounded strained. Sirius winced visibly.
'I'm tired Sirius, I'm going to bed. I guess I'll see you in the morning.' With that Harry opened and closed the door behind him, leaving Sirius facing a wall, and feeling desperate with guilt.
Harry steeped fully into the room, and was almost pleasantly surprised. There were two stuffed, comfy armchairs plonked round a crackling fireplace, and between them a small table. In the corners on the room were large four-poster beds, similar to those of his old dormitory, with his suitcase already there for him. Along the side of the room was what Harry guessed to be a gigantic walk in wardrobe, probably to house Draco's large range of clothes. The room was bathed in an amber light, and was really in Harry's opinion quite welcoming. There was another door on the wall, leading to what was unmistakeably a bathroom.
Harry came round to the armchairs, and collapsed into one, briefly registering the presence of Draco Malfoy in the other armchair. Draco leaned back, the malicious smirk firmly in place on his face.
'So Potter, you and me working together, just don't start calling me brother, I don't want the wrong sort of people getting the wrong sort of ideas.'
'Just what do you mean by that Malfoy?' Harry's voice had an almost dangerous edge to it.
'Well, hearing what's happened to the other members of your uh, family, I don't really want to find myself in that position.' Draco had barely a moment to smirk in triumph before Harry went berserk.
'That's it, you and me Malfoy, are going to sort out this problem, right now! You are going to tell me why you have spent four years going out your way to be a complete bastard to me, and why you feel it right to bring up the one thing in the world which tortures me the most. What gives you the bloody right to do that, to laugh at those who have had everyone they have ever called family taken away from them.'
Draco felt his own blood beginning to boil, and he too raised himself from the chair.
'You want to know why I behave like I do, do you? Why shouldn't I go out my way to put down perfect, good Harry Potter, nobody else bloody does. What gives me the right to say that to you, well imagine this. Imagine having a family, a family who do love you, and having to give them up of your own free will, just imagine it! And you want to know why I can say one nice, friendly thing to you, just remember, I did once, and you threw it back in my face!'
Both boys stood facing each other, each scarlet in the face with anger. Harry was struck by a sudden realisation. All this bitterness, all this meanness, all of it had stemmed from Draco's hurt when Harry had refused his friendship, when Harry had refused to shook his hand. Draco had spent 4 years trying to make up for that one humiliation. Harry could feel the anger evaporating.
'Malfoy, tell me what happened at the Diggles.'
Draco then let it out, he didn't know why, maybe it was an eagerness to get it off his chest, maybe to tell it to someone who might understand what he was going through.
'It was my fault, all of it. My dad took me with him that night, told me that my time had come, that it was a special day in the Malfoy house. He took us to the Diggles house, there were a group of death eaters outside. They said they were going to make it their base, their headquarters. We went inside, to meet him, to meet Voldemort.' Draco froze, remembering painful memories, then continued.
He told me that he knew what I was, said that him and me were the same, broke from the same mould. He asked if I was ready to join him, at his right hand side, to bring down Potter, you'
'And I said no, I don't know why, that was the moment I had waited for all my life, but something inside me told me I couldn't do it. He said he thought that I needed persuading, then he brought out the Diggles.' With that, Harry could see a tear forming in the corner of Draco's eye, and yet still he continued.
'My father came forward, told him I knew the killing curse, that I would join him, or I would lose my family and friends. So he offered me a choice, kill the Diggles myself, or have him do it in a more painful way.'
Harry tried to interrupt. 'Malfoy, it's ok, you don't have to tell me'.
But Draco wasn't listening , he kept on going.
'They brought Diggle first. I still said I wouldn't do it, that I couldn't do it. So Voldemort, he exploded him, right in front of us all, in front of his family, and then he laughed, laughed at the mess he had made.'
Harry felt sick.
'He asked again, I still said no, and then he started with the children. I was shaking by then, I'd been sick, it only made him laugh more. The last one to go was the smallest child, only 5 years old, and Voldemort suffocated her with thin air, he made it slow, painful, all because I couldn't end it for her, I was too cowardly.' The tears began to fall freely from Draco's eyes, Harry could feel his own eyes watering.
'And then I snapped, things started to fly round the room, hitting the death eaters, they were all very confused. I apparated away, landed on Hogwarts front lawn, right in front of Dumbledore. I told him I wanted to do everything I could to help him, that I was on his side. Your side. That was a week ago, I've been here since.'
With that, Draco finished, his breath coming in rasps. Harry rose, knowing exactly what to do, and held his hand out to Draco, his own voice hoarse.
'Hello, Pleased to meet you Draco Malfoy, I'm looking forward to working with you for the order of phoenix. Care to get to know me better, I feel we could be quite good friends, my name's Harry Potter by the way.'
Draco looked at Harry for a moment as if he were mad, then he seized his hand with an eagerness Harry hadn't expected, pulling Harry back down into his seat. Then Draco leaned forward, a gleam in his eye.
'Not the Harry Potter?'
The following morning, Sirius Black and Albus Dumbledore pushed open the door to the boy's bedroom cautiously, expecting to find utter chaos. To their eternal surprise, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were still up, still in their chairs, engaged in a conversation about the uselessness of Professor Trelawney.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and the boys looked up.
'I'm sorry boys, but again I have bad news, concerning Mister Fudge.'
'What has he done now professor?'
'He is dead Harry, and his replacement is Lucius Malfoy.'
Disclaimer: Alas, this story is merely a cheap rip off of Miss Rowlings Creations, and the poem is Kipling's. I own nothing, dammit.
