SOOOO I forgot to update the story on FFnet. It's updated on A03 though. My bad! Ill try to correct this over the next couple days.
Enjoy! Reviews makes Padfoot happy! :D
Three long days stretched away in relative silence. The Order members all reported in regularly, all besides Mundungus. Harry was beginning to worry about the thief, but Minerva reassured him, it wasn't abnormal for him to disappear for a week at a time before returning with news. Ron wasn't the least bit surprised that Malfoy had declined to help. Hermione, however, thought he should try again. She had cornered him in his office, early in the morning. Harry's brain was still sluggishly trying to process information when she started in on him.
"Well maybe if he sees how serious you are about this-"
"It's Malfoy," Ron said loudly. "He won't help us."
Harry was inclined to agree but she was frowning at him. He sighed.
"Fine! I'll go back to the Manor this weekend and try again. Happy?"
She crossed her arms.
"He was a Death Eater, he's more likely to get information than Mundungus," she snapped.
"But he has no reason to give that to us," Ron pointed out. "He's not our friend. Why do you want to save everything? First the House Elves with spew-"
"Don't call it spew! It's -"
Ron lunged over the table, knocking over their cups of tea to cover her mouth.
"All right! All right! Don't lecture us."
Harry didn't have to go to Malfoy though, Draco came to him. Draco was quiet as Harry motioned him into the sitting area and got them tea. He noticed as he passed him a cup that his skin was ice cold. Harry looked at him in some concern. The cloak Malfoy was wearing was clearly soaked. He waved his wand at the fire and it grew brighter, filling the room with warmth. Draco actually shot him a small smile and his heart skipped a beat. He coughed and took a seat next to him.
"There's nothing about...about Voldemort," Draco said. He had closed his eyes as if saying the word caused him great pain. "There is some talk of a new Dark Lord but…
"Couldn't that be Voldemort?" Harry pressed, leaning forward.
"It could be," Draco said exasperated. "But the Purebloods always bleat on about a new dark lord. They have to hold on to hope."
It was odd, thinking of the Death Eaters and purebloods purification as hope when Harry had always viewed it as despair. The thought was an annoying fly, he kept twitching to get away from him. It just wouldn't settle.
"I'm going to meet with the Goyle's later today, I haven't seen them in a couple years, but they were still good-"
He's lying.
An irrational anger surged through him and it must have shown on his face, because Malfoy had stopped mid sentence. He was frowning, his forehead scrunched with concern.
"You're lying," Harry said. "What do you know? What is he up to, Malfoy?"
Draco's mouth fell open and his cheeks tinged pink.
"I'm not- Potter- be reasonable, I've only had a couple days. I haven't picked up on anything and besides, if he is gaining power, if he is still alive, it's not like- I mean- the Malfoy's -we fell from favor! We turned blood traitor at the end of the war, he won't want anything to do with us, it's not likely anyone would talk to me!"
"Yeah?" Harry said, they were both standing now. Harry wasn't sure when either of them had taken to their feet but Draco's hand plunged into his robe pocket and he drew his wand, Harry blinked in surprise. He hadn't even pulled his wand yet. He could see Malfoy breathing heavily. He smirked. "Scared, Malfoy?"
"I'm leaving," he panted. "You're dangerous, Potter. Stay away from me."
He felt like a predator as he watched Malfoy move carefully backwards, sneaking glances behind him until his back hit the door and Malfoy reached behind him searching for the handle. His eyes never left Harry's.
"If you're involved, I'll make sure you regret it," Harry warned.
Malfoy's eyes flashed as he shot Harry one more look before slamming the door.
One by one everyone seemed to grow disinterested with the case. There simply wasn't any proof. The leads all went dry. Malfoy hadn't shown his face for well over a week and even though Hermione was pressing him to go and apologize ("Why had you called him a liar in the first place? Honestly!") But worse of all, Ginny didn't believe him. She had started suggesting he visit St. Mungo's. He felt betrayed and hurt. He had thought, besides Ron and Hermione, his own wife would believe him. She had been possessed by Voldemort before and understood what it was like after all.
"She's being possessed again, Harry."
He looked at his fiancee, curled up, reading by the fire. Was it possible she was being possessed or was he simply being fed false information? He couldn't be sure. So, he took a large gulp of his tea and set his cup down. Ginny looked up at the noise.
"Er-have you ...Don't get mad," he said suddenly. "I have to be sure, but can you remember everything? It's not possible you're being...possessed?"
As he predicted, this seemed to fire Ginny up. Her eyes flashed, the smile vanished from her face and she was on her feet.
"You need to go to St. Mungo's!" she yelled. "There's no proof he's back, Harry. There's something wrong, maybe someone cursed you?"
"I'll go if you go," he said. He stood up. If this was the only way to get her to take him seriously, then he'd play along. It wouldn't hurt to be checked for curses in any case. She smiled, clearly amused at his challenge.
"After you, hero."
They did an exam and neither of them were cursed. Harry was not ready to give up though and began questioning her on any recent discoveries or purchases. This only upset his wife more.
"I am not 11, Harry! I am not some -some - that SAME silly child who picked up a book full of dark magic and -and poured her soul into it. Don't you think I know better? That I learned from that experience?"
She looked a bit green and he reached out for her but she shoved him away.
"Don't! How dare you…" She trailed off with a sob and looked away.
He felt helpless as he watched her. The Healer approached him.
"Mr. Potter, I do have some questions for you. If you don't mind?"
Harry crossed his arms.
"Go ahead, I can answer them here."
The Healer looked a bit uncomfortable but when Ginny nodded at her encouragingly she continued and asked the first question,
"I want you to answer these on a scale from Definitely agree, some what agree, agree, not sure, disagree, some what disagree, and definitely disagree. Do you understand?"
"Yes," he said shortly.
"I think that I have felt that there are odd or unusual things going on that I can't explain. "
"Definitely agree."
"I think that I might be able to predict the future."
He rolled his eyes. "Definitely disagree. I'm not Trelwany."
Ginny cracked a small smile at this and he felt some relief. At least she was not hating him.
"I may have felt that there could possibly be something interrupting or controlling my thoughts,
feelings, or actions. "
He was silent for a long moment. The way it sounded came off crazy but they had to take into consideration his connection to Voldemort, surely?
"Definitely agree."
"I have had the experience of doing something differently because of my superstitions."
"Not sure?" he answered. He was getting that annoying twitch going on. He wanted this done. "How much longer is this going to be?"
"Only a few more statements, Mr. Potter."
He sighed and nodded. A few more, he could last a few more.
"I think that I may get confused at times whether something I experience or perceive may be real or may be just part of my imagination or dreams."
His lip curled up and he took a step away. He noticed the scared look the Healer shot Ginny, the alarm on his wife's face, but he shook his head.
"I'm done here."
Ginny followed him home in silence. When they stepped inside she rounded on him, magic seemed to be sparking off of her.
"You should have finished!"
"Did you hear what they were asking?" He yelled back. The pictures on the walls trembled and one fell. Ginny jumped and looked at it before whirling back around.
"Control your magic," she snarled. "You're destroying our home."
"It is always me, isn't it?" he asked. He was not going to calm down any time soon. "You won't even take into consideration that YOU forced me to go!"
Another item fell off the fire place and she pulled out her wand. This stopped him. Did she really think he was going to hurt her? Her lip trembled and she choked on her words.
"I'm going to the Burrow. I'll come back when I'm r-ready."
"Ginny…" he followed her to the Floo. "I am sorry, please, please do not go…"
"Don't! Don't follow me!" She yelled shrilly.
She glanced back at him and he saw the first tears fall. She grabbed the Floo powder and tossed a handful in.
"The Burrow!"
And she was gone. Harry could not bring himself to move and eventually he sat down, staring at it. Maybe if he waited she would come back. He could not accept that his wife had left because she was scared of what he might do. He would risk everything for her.
He woke in the morning to find himself cold and stiff on the floor. The fire long dead. The sunlight starting to spill into the clearly empty and horribly silent house. He closed the Floo with a wave of his hand and curled up tightly. The first sob was ripped from his throat leaving it raw and sore and finally the tears came. He was alone. He had not been truly alone since before Hogwarts. His heart seemed to clench and more awful memories came to the surface.
Ron and Hermione came through the Floo when Harry had finally dragged himself up. He hadn't expected them to come immediately through, apparently they had been trying for an hour and were starting to get worried. Hermione paused as she took him in and he sighed. He looked like shit and this was confirmed when she cried, "Oh, Harry!" and threw herself at him.
"I'm fine," he said, peeling her off of him and holding her away at a distances. "I need a shower and something to eat. I'm fine."
After his shower he found even Ron and Hermione were doubting him. Out of everyone, those two were supposed to be his rock. His solid support. Although if he were honest with himself, it wouldn't be the first time they bailed on him. It was the same during the Chamber of Secrets fiasco. Hearing voices no one else could hear wasn't a good sign, even in the Wizarding world after all. He scowled and stabbed at his broccoli.
"Are you sure you don't want meat, Harry?" Ron asked. He was forever pushing meat on him but Harry had given it up after the war. He simply could not stomach any more death. Ron shrugged and patted him on the back.
"Tough luck about Ginny. She will come around though," Ron reassured him. Harry nodded and stabbed at his food some more. He was not much interested in eating it. Ron and Hermione had dragged him over to their place to eat when they caught wind of Ginny leaving.
"It is not for good, you know?" Hermione said. "Once she calms down, I am sure she will be back home, Harry."
"Yeah, and still won't believe me. She is insisting I go back to ST Mungo's and have them do a psychiatric exam. I am not crazy and I am tired of being accused of it."
"No one is saying you are crazy!" Hermione said. "But you have been through a lot. It wouldn't hurt to check would it?"
Harry glared at her and she seemed to shrink away a bit. Then he turned to Ron.
"What do you think?" Harry demanded.
Ron looked startled and choked on his food. When he came up for air finally he mumbled.
"It wouldn't hurt and if it makes Ginny happy…."
Harry immediately pushed his plate away.
"I am not hungry."
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione cried but he was already standing and walking outside.
"Look, I can't do this on my own," he said suddenly. "Neither of you believe me, the only person who seems to is someone I can't even trust fully. Hermione, I need you to believe me."
She chewed on her lip and looked at him pleadingly.
"I want to believe you," she said quietly. "But there is no proof. Besides, wasn't the - the Horocrux destroyed when you..."
"When I died?" He asked. "That's what I thought. But the connection is clearly open and Malfoy's reported back on some Death Eater movement."
"Malfoy, told you this?" Ron had finally arrived. He was carrying his steak in a sandwich now. Harry wrinkled his nose.
"Yes."
"You can't trust a word out of that ferret!" Ron yelled. Hermione slapped his shoulder.
"Draco-"
"Please, Hermione, my heart cannot take you calling him Draco." Ron said. She rolled his eyes.
"He is a good source."
"Assuming he is telling the truth," Harry pointed out. "I did accuse him of lying. He got scared and ran."
"Draco-"
"Malfoy," Ron corrected Hermione. She rolled her eyes again.
"He does not seem to be the type to just run after being accused of lying, what happened?" she asked.
"Er- well, I may have scared him. He seemed scared anyway. I did not threaten him!"
Hermione sighed. "What did he say, Harry?"
So he told them the very little information he had. Ron was not interested but Hermione wanted Harry to contact him.
"Ah, no, Hermione! He told me to stay away!"
"Harry."
And that's how he ended up writing Malfoy a hurried note.
