(AN: I welcome any feedback to improve future chapters or something that I missed when writing this chapter. Thank you for taking the time to read and review. Obligatory I don't own Harry Potter or any characters besides anything I made up.)

(At the time of chapter release, this story has been viewed 250 times and I don't know how I can thank each person that has gone onto this story besides trying to improve the quality and write more chapters.)

(This is a warning that the chapter does allude to or mention death or torture)


Chapter 2 Ending:

Harry was thrown out of his mind and back into his body. He opened his eyes, blinking in the sudden light, and saw that it was sunset outside of the cabin window. Had he really been talking with Tom that long, he thought, before turning his gaze past a glaring Hedwig and towards the door and seeing an individual leaning in the doorway.

'Took long enough to come round, Potter,' the blonde-haired individual drawled.


'Are you even aware of how long it took to overcome your poor excuse of a locking charm, and then how much time has passed since? Anyone could have come in and done anything whilst you were gone from the world.' Malfoy ranted as he closed the door and settled in the seat opposite Harry. He locked his gaze on Harry, eyes flicking over him as if examining or expecting something to happen. After a moment of this behaviour, he leaned back with closed eyes and exhaled a long sigh. 'Well, there wasn't much one could do if they were in the same circumstances as you are.'

Harry was both thoroughly confused and scared of what currently occurring. This was not what had happened the first time on the train ride, certainly not with the behaviour that Malfoy was portraying. If he had to put a word to it, he would say that Malfoy was concerned or even afraid for him.

'Sorry, but do I know you?' Harry feigned innocence, his heart racing at the thought that someone already seemed to know what had happened when he hadn't even accepted the situation.

Malfoy looked incredulous at this question before giving another long sigh. 'Must I deal with this on top on everything else that was left on me.' Draco glared at Harry before his gaze softened a bit and letting out a deep breath. 'I ask that you please stop with your horrendous attempts at lying, we all know that you were never good even after that change in your behaviour once that basilisk affair happened. It was decided that someone was to be sent after what happened to you, in order to help you where they could, otherwise there was a chance that everything would be ruined again.' Draco explained, after pulling out his wand and layering a few wards to keep from anyone overhearing what was being said.

Harry gave a flinch when the wand came out but relaxed slightly after recognising a few of the spells that were cast. 'I don't know what you are doing here, but how could I trust you after what happened? I know that I saw you standing in the corner when the other deatheaters were having their fun after they found me,' Harry spat at Malfoy, 'You just stood there watching, how do I know some of those curses that hit me didn't come from you. I'm sure that they didn't stop after I was unconscious.'

Malfoy recoiled at this sudden shift in behaviour, as he tried to get a word in Harry continued over him.

'You wouldn't have cared anyway, would you? Whenever I saw you, you were insulting and degrading me or my friends. You must have been thrilled when you became a deatheater and joined Voldemort, finally getting to be around people that shared the same opinion about the filthy blood that's threatening to pollute the oh-so precious pure blood that's running through your veins.' Harry panted as he finished this angry tirade, not seeing the shamed look that was showing on Malfoy's face.

Malfoy looked away as he tentatively began to speak after a few moments filled with the slowly evening breath as Harry regained control. 'I thought that I was doing something noble at first, something that would lead to those of lesser blood to stop coming and diluting the pureness of blood. That changed when we were only sent out on raids against the muggles, over months that was all that ever happened. There was a muggle took a metal pipe, pointed it at our group and something ripped through the others to my left. That was the first time that a muggle fought back, and they won, we took who we could and apparated away as soon as we could. Everyone that was involved in the raid suffered the Dark Lords anger, several who were at deaths door were not given any mercy.' Malfoy took a deep breath and closed his eyes before continuing his tale, while Harry looked on in revulsion at what was described yet concerned when people died at the hands of Voldemort.

'I tried to turn away, but the mark burned whenever I thought about betrayal. I had to stay otherwise I would have been hunted down and have the same treatment as Karkaroff, he was in the Dark Lords company for over a year before he was brought before the others and made an example of. If it wasn't announced who he was, I wouldn't have had known who it was. He was utterly broken in such a methodical nature that he would never have lived the length he did without the aid of numerous spells and potions that were used to keep him around to kill him as slowly as possible. I could never describe how he looked as it is too much for any person to take, even a healer would be hard pressed to describe it in a manner that someone could understand.' Malfoy shuddered as he turned slightly green, lost in the memory.

'The night that you were captured, was the start of the end. I had been trying everything I could to stay away from the events where someone was on display, but that night everyone had to attend, or they would be risking everything. I stayed as far back as possible and when I was thrust in front of you, not long after you had fallen unconscious, I used a long term spell that would cause your body deteriorate over a few weeks, but it has an easy counter and the damage can be reversed fairly fast compared to what others were doing.' Malfoy looked incredibly ashamed of his actions as he was taking deep breaths to stop his voice wavering throughout the explanation. 'I am not making excuses for my actions. I know what I did was wrong, but I am trying to give you the reasons behind what I had to do so that there was some chance that you could trust me.' Malfoy looked up at Harry with a sense of longing in his eyes, pleading for a second chance, a chance to make up for the wrongs that he had done to Harry and countless others.

Harry was deeply conflicted, in front of him was one who had tortured others and himself, even admitting it, but in front of him was someone who had bared their darkest secrets in a hope that they could earn some form of forgiveness. The thoughts of what could happen if he took either choice went through his head, of how much he would be able to trust someone who he had conflicted with almost since the moment the had met. He shook his head to dislodge any errant thoughts before making up his mind. 'I don't think that I will ever be able to forgive you for what you have done, but I can put that aside in order to work with you towards a common goal. There will probably never be any friendship between us, though maybe a there can be a chance that we will have a neutral outlook to each other.'

Malfoy looked crestfallen at the announcement that there would never be a friendship between them, before schooling his face to a more neutral stance. 'I understand your decision and the reasons behind it. I hope that you are wrong and that I may earn your trust, even it takes a lifetime.' He ended with a slight smirk at his choice of wording.

Harry remembered what Malfoy (did he call him Draco now) had mentioned before he had gone on his rant about Malfoy's past. 'What did you mean that you had been chosen to go back after what happened to me.' Harry asked, pensive about the chance that there was someone, or a group, that had known about what had happened to Him and Tom and was able to do the same thing to someone else.

Draco shifted his eyes to the side of Harry before answering, 'It's hard to talk about, I was told that you could only know the details once you knew who was the one that caused this to happen.'

'Are you saying that it wasn't Voldemort's ritual that caused all of this to happen?'

'I know that I am supposed to help you, but there are a few things that are up to you to work out and understand. Even if I told you, you wouldn't be able to make sense of it. Apparently when the time is right you will connect what you know and understand what has happened.' Malfoy shifted in his seat and looked towards the window, showing the dusky night sky that indicated they were nearing Hogsmeade station. As if on cue the train started to slow down, with a loud knock on the cabin door. Both boys jumped and tensed as the door opened to reveal the Hufflepuff known as Rob.

'We've reached Hogsmeade and I would suggest quickly putting on your robes before you leave the train, we have about five minutes before we properly stop.'

With this Rob closed the door, leaving two nervous boys each pondering what would happen now that they had reached Hogwarts.


They heard a loud gruff voice in the semi-dark platform, 'First years o'er here, come now all first years.' Gathering in front of the giant man, the group of robed first years were led down the to docks along the lakeside and seated into the small boats that only held four first years. The giant yelled out into the darkness and the boats began to move across the lake, light waves washing against the side. There were many gasps as the lit castle came into view, with two of them seeing a spectacular castle that had been in ruin the last time that they had laid eyes upon.

When the boats stopped at the underground docks, there were a few green faces and almost drunk walking as they tried to regain their land feet after travelling across the water. The giant led the way up the stairs and knocked on the door twice, each producing a loud echo behind them and they could hear it from the other side of the door. The doors squeaked a little from little use as they opened away from the group to reveal a tall older lady, her grey hair held in a restricting bun. The group felt very small in the eyes that peered over the top of her glasses.

'The first years, Professor McGonagall.' The giant announced, before turning squeezing past the professor and taking a door to the side.

'Thank you, Hagrid.' McGonagall replied before turning her attention to the new students. 'Come with me and don't lag behind, there is always plenty of time to wonder about the things you will see later.' McGonagall turned around and took off at a brisk pace, one that the first years would be able to follow unless they gawked too much at the sights. Leading the students to an antechamber before two large studded doors, she turned around. 'Welcome to Hogwarts, the premiere school for magic in the British Isles. In a moment you shall be sorted into houses. In these houses are your friends, your family. Work hard and achievements will be rewarded, and any intolerable behaviour will be punished. I wish you all the best for the next seven years that Hogwarts will be your second home, and that your prospective futures be successful. I shall check that we are ready for you, I suggest that you smarten yourselves up before we go in.' With this she turned and went through the door before it closed after her.

Harry and Malfoy glanced at each other after this announcement, surely this was different to what they remembered the strict professor saying the first time. Wasn't the speech longer last time?

Harry felt a tap on the shoulder, as he turned in the direction of the tapped shoulder, a red headed boy moved where Draco was standing, causing the tentative ally to stumble backwards in an effort to not occupy the same space.

'You know all Malfoys' are slimy-Slytherins that can't be trusted, right?' The red head said as he moved between them, his face with a forced looking smile and dirt on the side of his nose.


I would like to thank rozenmiko and Ash Bishop for reviewing chapter 2 and those that have enjoyed this story enough to follow it.

(Edit: Thanks rozenmiko for pointing out that mistake, I'll keep a closer eye out when reading before uploading)