Chapter 3: Baiting
Harry shuddered as Daphne threaded her arm around his just as they let go of the port-key.
Having the girls attached to them meant the boys couldn't talk freely to one another and they hated it.
"The mark on your face seems to have gone down a bit," Daphne said with a smile at Harry, touching the slight bruise to his cheek.
Harry snatched her hand and forced it away from his face without a word.
"I don't see why you boys fight your father so much. He's only looking out for you and making sure you get the respect you should," Pansy said in a high nasal tone.
"Shut the fuck up, Parkinson. You know absolutely fuck all so keep your fucking nose out," Harry growled.
Daphne opened her mouth to defend her friend but the look she got from him made the retort die in her throat.
Pansy looked towards Draco, as if expecting him to defend her but he just looked at her coldly.
They were out in public and while they were fuming with their father they had their untouchable ice cold front in place.
It was after the match when Pansy and Daphne went with Narcissa to visit friends that the boys finally had the chance to talk.
"He hit you again?" Draco asked after making sure their father was no where in sight.
Harry nodded and told Draco about the dream he had.
"Do you think it really happened?" Draco quizzed feeling his stomach curl up at the thought.
"I asked father if he was going to tell us and he lashed out. If he didn't have anything to hide he wouldn't have lashed out. The way he reacted when Voldemort said he was going to reign in our disobedience tells me that the way father's acting now is to stop things from been too bad if we really do end up face to face with the snake again," Harry sighed running a hand through his hair.
"That doesn't excuse him. If he just sat us down and told us we'd work out a way to stop things been so bad," Draco grunted.
Harry couldn't argue with that.
As Draco went to say something else their father appeared in completely black robes.
They looked at him cautiously.
They knew those were his Death Eater robes. They'd seen pictures of him in them when they were younger.
"Your mother and the girls are going to stay clear of the campsite for a while until the commotion has settled. I want the two of you to go up into the forest and stay there until everything settles,"
"What commotion father?" Harry asked completely confused.
Surely they would have heard something.
"A few friends and I are going to have a little fun and rile up the ministry. Try and stay out of sight. I know we've had a rough couple of weeks boys but I love you and while you may resent some of my actions towards the pair of you know I only do it because I care. Now go up in to the forest," Lucius said pulling out a mask as they started to walk out.
The twins looked at each other as they exited the tent and decided that for this one instance they were not going to stop and nose around.
The Death Eaters having fun was not something they wanted a part of.
"Least we don't have to put up with the banshees," Harry snickered as they entered the forest.
They stayed close enough to the edge so they could see the commotion going on down in the campsite.
"What do you reckon made him want to do this now?" Draco asked as he watched the group of Death Eaters move through the campsite still more or less unnoticed.
"Voldemort," Harry shrugged hearing the screams that started to erupt from the site.
"Yes but father has been undeniably being trying to keep us away from Voldemort since first year. Surely that means he wasn't as loyal as he made out," Draco responded.
"Or maybe he just didn't want his master to take out his wrath on us. If he wasn't loyal he wouldn't have gone running back now," Harry retorted.
"How did he even know?" Draco muttered.
"Pettigrew, he must have contacted him or something," Harry shrugged again smirking slightly as the panic levels in the campsite rose dramatically.
Wizards and witches alike were running for cover of the forest or for the port-keys.
How could they act so undignified?
He knew if either he or Draco were to face death they definitely wouldn't be doing it snivelling.
"Makes you proud to be a Malfoy doesn't it," Draco stated knowing what his brother was sneering at.
Harry nodded.
"I don't understand how they can act so undignified. There must be thousands of civilians here and they could easily outnumber them but instead they run screaming and snivelling. They're pathetic,"
Draco agreed wholeheartedly.
"What are we going to do about Voldemort?" he asked.
"What can we do? We don't know his plans and no doubt father won't be forthcoming," Harry asked in return.
"He's going to torture us isn't he," Draco stated not expecting anything contradicting from his brother.
"We can make it so it's not as bad," Harry muttered.
"How on earth-"
"Ronald will you be careful where you step!" a shrill voice interrupted.
The twins stood up and grinned at each other before turning around to face Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Indigo Vixen and Dean Thomas.
"Well, well, I'd have thought they'd have you two strapped up with the rest of the filth," Harry smirked at Thomas and Granger, gaining their attention.
The group spun around facing them.
"Piss off, Malfoy, and while you're at it take Weasley and Thomas with you," Indigo spat.
Harry let his eyes rake over the feisty Ravenclaw. Her hair was longer and thrown into a ponytail, her eyes were narrowed and her porcelain skin seemed to illuminate in the moonlight.
"Not very nice," Draco snorted.
"Where's daddy? I bet he's one of the pillocks down there terrorising the muggles isn't he," Ron snarled bitterly.
"If he was we wouldn't tell you would we Weasley," Harry snorted casting his eyes back.
"I'll take that as a yes," Thomas snarled.
"I think we best leave, Hades, I bet they can smell the muggle in this lot," Draco sneered.
"We're all magical here," Granger snapped.
The twins sneered at the same time.
"Of course you're not, Granger, you and Thomas aren't even muggle are you? You're just a hybrid of fucked up DNA," Harry spat.
The group bristled but Indigo was the one that stopped it escalating.
"Come on Hermione, despite loving the conversation we're having here, we're far too close to the tree line. Them bastards down there will haul you up there as soon as they see you if we don't scatter now," she stated pulling her friend with her.
Weasley and Thomas looked at each other before taking off after the two girls.
"Pansies," Draco snorted before settling back down to where they'd been sat observing before the intrusion.
"What do you expect, they're Hufflepuffs in disguise of Gryffindors," Harry said rolling his eyes. "That could be us in a few years," he stated pointing to the group of Death Eaters.
Draco shuddered.
"Does that not bother you?"
"Of course it bothers me. The man they serve isn't even a pureblood but if we have to choose between joining them and living or staying out of it and dying as traitors I know which option I'm going to choose. I am not stupid,"
Sighing Draco couldn't argue, he wouldn't die either, not if it could be helped.
Indigo couldn't help but look around the trees as more screams were heard.
Despite knowing that Hermione was a witch and had a right to be among them she knew that the Malfoys were telling the truth. As soon as those bastards saw Hermione they'd have her strung up next to the muggles.
Because to them, Hermione was worse than a muggle.
"I don't get why those two pillocks are just alright with what's happening! They're acting as if they're watching an entertainment act," Hermione bust as they stopped walking.
Weasley and Thomas weren't far from them but they were far enough away not to hear everything they said.
"They're Malfoys, Hermione. Even when they were younger, before they went to Hogwarts, they were worshipped and hailed to be the most powerful children in Britain," Indigo said shaking her head.
"Why though! Why are they given such special treatment?" Hermione demanded.
"Because before they went to Hogwarts they blew a hole in the floor of one of the court rooms and the room was out of service for a year afterwards because no one could repair it properly,"
"Accidental-"
"Accidental magic doesn't do what they did and especially without an emotional trigger. My mother was one of the workers who tried to fix it and she was immensely impressed and disturbed at their abled magic. Many thought Lucius Malfoy was teaching his sons the dark arts. It was never proven and to be honest I don't think it ever will be. The Malfoys hold a lot of power in this world and they are immensely secretive and protective of family and honour," Indigo sighed rubbing her eyes.
"But-"
Screams erupted into the darkness and the girls conversation stopped abruptly as an eerie green light lit up the sky.
A high pitched scream sounded behind them.
Hermione stared at the skull and snake in horror while Indigo tensed.
"Someone's dead," she murmured worry lacing her voice and the green light of the Dark Mark illuminating her face.
AN: Sorry to those of you who were looking forwards to a Quidditch match! I'm a huge lover of Quidditch but I'm not a lover of writing it. A bit of a filler chapter but hope you all liked it anyway :)
psychoyoshi79 - The thought of leaving hasn't come up, Harry is still very much loyal to his family even with Lucius acting like he is. Lucius loves the boys in his own wonky way and Harry knows this :) Draco definately had more of a backbone and a bit more power too but the reasons to his power will be explained in time ;) Harry and Daphne's relationship is definately making moves but Harry is still very much against the whole arragement. Ahh Lucius did indeed tell them before hand what did you think? Yep you have Draco's resentment of Pansy sussed, the more she's forced on him the more he'll back away just on principle :) Thank you for the review! :D
Pig-Rabbit-Suk - I completely agree with you the cartoons these days have me bewildered. I was one for Buffy and Charmed myself anything with magic in it and i was hooked :) haha yep a lot of people want to give Lucius a good ole beating for his actions but the reasons for his actions will be revealed as the books continue :) Ahh well maybe if you combine your drawing and your writings it'll start to make progress? The do say a picture is worth a 1000 words...or something along those lines anyway :) Thanks for the review! :D
Dragons-Twilight1992 - More is on it's way! :D Thanks for the review! :D