Draco resisted the urge to curl further into the bed and instead gathered his strength, "Headmaster, I would like to leave."

The Headmaster reverted his attention back to Draco and smiled, "Why, of course Mr. Malfoy, provided you answer a few questions."

Draco stared warily at a concerned Dumbledore while he approached the hospital bed.

"Did Mr. Potter harm you today?"

Draco's eyes narrowed and he turned to look over towards the Golden Trio who appeared to be in shock at the question Dumbledore presented him with.

"Professor?" asked Potter. The Headmaster raised a hand and silenced him; his eyes still trained on Draco. Who gave him an answer.

"Doesn't he always Headmaster?" Draco asked while raising an eyebrow, "As far as I'm concerned your Golden Boy has always had issues."

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose before resuming their open twinkle. "Ah, I see. Now, has he spoken to you of his inheritance?"

"He has," Draco told him with narrowed eyes. Ignoring the glare Draco sent him Dumbledore looked towards Madame Pomfrey and the others before moving a single finger to separate their conversation from them. Then turning back to Draco, Dumbledore's face grew grave.

"I have grown to love Harry Mr. Malfoy, and I do not want him to be involved in deceit and treachery. Where I have failed him in the past, I plan on doing better now. In order to do so, I need information from you. Now, if I may Mr. Malfoy…"

"You may not," interrupted Draco. He would not be influenced or questioned without protection and especially not without equivalent exchange - which really meant that Draco wanted the better end of the deal. Not to mention, the environment in no way felt encouraging. Rather he felt trapped.

Without deals and control Draco would not adhere to sharing with Dumbledore. Only one person could he fully trust: himself and with some things: Severus Snape.

Draco knew that Severus was a spy and knew that as a double agent he must've given some information to the Headmaster. Until he knew what Severus told Dumbledore, Draco's mouth, mind and heart remained closed; Draco would not reveal his secrets.

Draco knew what kind of conniving man it took in order for the Dark Lord to feel something, especially if that something was fear. After his "sessions" with the Dark Lord, Draco would never trust someone explicitly again. His own father abandoned him and left him at the hands of a madman and Severus' purpose surpassed his life - and that he understood. Severus had higher priorities than him.

His mother was no longer existent due to her disobedience and it was up to Draco to bring her back and to bring her to safety. And no, one, and Draco meant no one, would jeopardize that mission. Halting his thoughts and coming back to reality Draco's determined eyes met Dumbledore's sad orbs.

"Mr. Malfoy..."

Draco's eyes widened with realization. Severus had warned him to look for that expression. Reacting with the training he received from his trusted mentor prior to his return to Hogwarts, Draco prepared himself. And just as he expected, Draco felt the probe in his mind and he immediately fired a quick spell causing Dumbledore to stumble back. Wandless he may be, but powerless Draco was not.

The shock on the Headmaster's face was almost worth it and Draco wanted to smile, but as he saw the determined look on the old man's face, Draco prepared himself to get lost in a memory so his mind became preoccupied and impenetrable.

Dumbledore quickly approached the bed and placed his fingers forcefully on Draco's temples. Thrashing mentally against Dumbledore's attack Draco tried to calm himself and think.

Potter, seeing his mate in distress, immediately reacted by coming towards him. Potter's face broke out in surprise and anger when his entire being met Dumbledore's blockade. Without hesitation Potter threw a curse at the barrier to no avail. Magic circled around Potter as the lights in the room dimmed and chaos began to swell.

Draco, clueless of his surroundings focused and a memory surfaced. He remembered something Severus had taught him as a young child when he ran in fear of his father. It was one of the memories that had recently surfaced in his time of meditation with Severus to break down the memories his father sealed inside his mind.

A small, slight child ran through an abandoned corridor in search for something, anything, anyone to heal the sadness that threatened to overwhelm the tiny frame. The child slipped on the uneven stone floor scraping the pale knees and drawing blood. The once beautiful clothing of the child ripped and stained over other old stains. Sobs rose from the child's throat as the eyes glued to the floor.

"Help…" a soft voice pleaded at the stone. Shaking the child remained on the floor kneeling before leaning forward and placing slender hands stained with blood upon the floor. Father was angry. He was furious at the failure of the child and punishment was always severe for mistakes. Locked away beneath the dungeons where beasts and evil things lurked meant that this time the child was sent to die. Hope - something that once gave the child life and beauty now seemed to be a curse as the child could not and would not give up even when all directions of this maze pushed towards death.

The sound of the stone walls moving caused the child to look up in alarm. Once again hell's corridors opened. Terror filled the child as they tried to silence their tears.

A cloaked person entered the hall and the child's eyes widened. Pushing off the floor the child began to sprint towards the individual but not before they tripped and crashed to the floor. The child cried out as they felt hands grasped around their ankles tightly. Kicking at the unseen assailant the child tried to turned whilst on the floor and their nails broke and they desperately tried to grasp anything that would give them leverage. Ignoring the cuts and pain in the child's hand they pulled a stone out of the floor and turned and hit the humanlike creature on the floor.

Using the limited strength the child pushed themselves off the floor and ran forwards towards the black cloaked figure who appeared to be walking away.

"Severus! Help! Don't leave me!"

The figured turned around and lowered its hood in surprise and without hesitation ran towards the child, fell to their knees and pulled the little child into a tight hug. Tears of relief ran down the young child's cheeks as they clutched their guardian. Keeping one arm the child tight, Severus hood fell as he brought out his wand and cast a protection spell around them. A shrill shriek echoed through the dark corridor as the unseen creature hit the barrier separating them from their meal.

Silencing the creature, Severus pulled tried to pull away from the hug to no avail. Time passed as Severus allowed the poor child to hold on tightly. When the sobs subsided to tears Severus finally successfully place some distance between them.

His face bore the look of shock as he looked down at the little child. Glancing into the wide grey eyes, Severus heart clenched and he wiped the tears streaming down the child's face before placing one hand on the child's cheek while the other grasped a frail shoulder.

"Forgive me little one," Severus begged, "I should have known he would do this…"

Silence deafened the room as the child stared into the dark eyes of the man they once trusted. Gauging the sincerity, the child offered a small smile.

Relief flooded Severus and he quickly began to share his plan with the young child. The young one nodded and tried not to sob as Truth flooded the tiny mind.

"Severus, how long. How long will I be fighting?"

Sad black met grey, "I have no answer for that, but what I do know is that you are strong and I will do what I can to free you."

The child's eyes looked down in defeat but then, like always, the curse came and hope flooded the heart. Defiant grey eyes rose and the tiny frame stood tall; regal despite the dirt and grime.

"Severus, teach me."

Draco recalled that to be one of the hardest memories to recover and after Severus had allowed him the privilege to see his own, the puzzle came together. There was one part that always stood out to him in that memory:

"Let them think you're weak little Alya. Let them think they've won and when they least expect it: strike. It is not the hurt you need to fear child, but it is the defeat that threatens to overwhelm you and drag you down, that is what will destroy you IF you let it. You have a choice. There is ALWAYS a choice."

Draco's heart softened and he knew what to do and he lowered his defiant grey eyes from Dumbledore and let the old man in slowly as to not arise suspicion.

He gave the Headmaster thousands of fake memories, he gave the Headmaster the imaginary life he envisioned over and over again, he gave the Headmaster in essence nothing except what Draco wanted.

Dumbledore withdrew his hands from Draco's temples fixed his glasses.

"Interesting development Mr. Malfoy."

"Interesting illegal interrogation methods professor," stated Draco.

"If Severus had not already used that method of deceit Mr. Malfoy, you would have had me fooled," the old man smiled softly, "I got what I wanted unbeknownst to you Mr. Malfoy."

Draco's eyes narrowed in confusion, but the Headmaster refused to answer the unspoken question. With a wave of his hand the separation that barred him from the others dissipated.

"I apologize for my methods Mr. Malfoy, but I had to be sure," said the Headmaster as a shadow sped past him.

"OF WHAT?" snarled Potter as he inserted himself between Draco and the Headmaster catching them both by surprise.

"Of his magical properties Mr. Potter," replied Dumbledore.

"I don't get it," spoke a confused Weasley.

"Ah, Mr. Weasley, let us all sit and talk with one another," the Headmaster said as he summoned chairs for each of the occupants to sit.

Draco watched as the other reluctantly sat down and Madame Pomfrey came over to Draco to check his vital signs as well as his magical signatures. Her face became puzzled for a moment and then proceeded to harden. leaving her patient confused at the lack of communication coming from the woman caring for him. And so he thought about his options and as Draco did so, he found the one option he wanted to be useless and pointless. He found no benefit in running from the situation.

Madame Pomfrey placed pillows so Draco could be raised into a sitting position and proceeded to leave the room, but not before turning by the doors in disappointment. Giving Dumbledore a piece of her mind she threatened,

"Do that again to one of my patients Albus and you'll find yourself in a very dark place."

The Headmaster nodded his head in acknowledgement as she quietly turned and closed the doors softly.

A/N: Sorry about the delay and the shortness of this chapter. I made several changes to this story over the course of this week and so I've focused more on editing the storyline. There are still some grammatical errors and for that I apologize. Thank you all for holding on for these past several years! Your dedication inspires me :) Until next time!