Disclaimer - I don't own Harry Potter, original ideas are mine though. OK, I'm reeeeally sorry for not updating for so long (I had a lot of work on and was distracted momentarily by the holidays) especially after all your wonderful reviews - they made me feel really good about this story. So, in return, I have written you a chapter that, for my standards, is novel length. Forgive me:)
Hell fire blazes thick and strong
Burning, flaming, incinerating the sinners
Crimes of sorts litter the mass psyche
No golden white light for you
Molten lava, flames and ash swirled into a blazing torrent which rained down around Draco's ears. The heat was intense yet at the same time not so. He felt strange, almost as if he were floating, surrounded by the violent edges of the rocks jutting out and the flames soaring about them. Where could he be?
He remembered…sitting by the lake. It was all quiet as he'd thought back to those scarring memories of his mother's murder. He'd been thinking how ironic it was that he looked so much like the one who'd killed the only one he loved. The one who'd snuck up behind him and knifed him in the back.
Shock. He'd been stabbed. He remembered now. The pain, the agony, the horrible burning sensation as the metal had plunged and twisted in his bloody flesh and ripped his life from him. But if he was dead, then what was this place? His hand passed through a jet of flame but it didn't burn.
The darkness was coming again. Creeping in at the corners of his vision, swamping out the rock and flame like a giant blot of ink, black and spreading rapidly. Suddenly Draco felt a great heaving in his chest and the firestorm faded out completely, being replaced instead by a blinding white.
Blinking blearily, Draco gave a shuddering gasp and his lungs felt raw like when you finally reach the surface of a deep pool after nearly drowning. Once the dull ache in his lungs appeared to have abated somewhat, the blonde haired boy lowered his eyes to look around him. A wizened old face peered back at him. Dumbledore.
Mcgonagall and Snape appeared at the Headmaster's shoulder, all of them had slightly shocked expressions on their faces although while Dumbledore appeared pleased, the others seemed a bit frightened.
"Well, Mr Malfoy, it seems you've got a bit of explaining to do of which myself and I'm sure Harry here would be most interested to listen to. After all," he broke off to give Draco a cheerfully conspirital wink, "it's quite the feat to come back from the dead and heal another at the same time wouldn't you say?
Draco levelled his eyes at the old man who was, rather obviously, attempting to get information out of him. 'Ever the friendly manipulator', thought the blonde Slytherin sardonically to himself.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The Headmaster looked put out for a moment before covering it up with a condescending smile.
"Surely you are aware of your heritage Mr Malfoy, I find it hard to believe that Lucius doesn't know or isn't bragging about it, after all, the Dragon Lord is ideal to bring fear and intimidation into the hearts of most people. With that in mind I would also like to offer you sanctuary dear boy. In return for a few basic things as I'm sure you'll understand."
'Or in other words' thought Draco, 'you want whatever I've got and you don't like your odds if I'm going to go against you.' Besides, how could he trust the man now when he'd allowed his father to get close enough to attack him? His protection couldn't amount to much if it was anything to go by. Next best option? Turn the tables.
"Ok firstly, old man, what the hell is the Dragon Lord and what has he got to do with me? Secondly, you can take your offer of 'sanctuary' and shove it where people would quail to imagine - I don't do manipulation anymore, and thirdly; don't call me Mr Malfoy."
Mcgonagall looked shocked at the way Draco had blown off Dumbledore's offer, her lower lip had tightened and she was obviously mentally renewing her vows of Slytherin hatred. Snape looked stern as ever, although the teenager in the bed before him could swear he saw the muscles in his face clench as if squashing an impending amused look which would be sure to ruin his carefully constructed reputation. Dumbledore didn't look so cheerful now. A small gasp interrupted the tense moment and all eyes turned to the adjacent bed.
"Harry!" Giving the Gryffindor Professor a brief cursory glance, Draco determined that the woman probably wouldn't last much longer if she kept imitating heart attacks this way. What could have provoked this reaction though? Wonder boy looked in perfect health to him despite Madame Pomfrey fussing over him now that he'd finally returned to consciousness as it seemed. Wait a second though…
Flashback
Intense pain jarred through him despite his not having the energy to spasm along with it. The icy water of the lake closed over him, darkening his hazy vision and stealing his final breaths. He could feel his body being slowly carried from the rocks, his feet catching on the stones in the shallower parts.
Everything had turned a murky red as his own blood washed around him, the coppery taste of it burning his throat. The scarlet liquid flowed down his nostrils and mouth, replacing the air in his lungs and seizing his life.
The last thing he saw was Potter's face contorted with pain and exertion as he struggled with the dead weight of his body and the horrific pain of the burning water creating massive burns and welts across the boy's skin. Odd that Draco himself couldn't feel the obviously searing heat, but then he was dead…
End flashback
"Well", began Draco in an airy tone, feeling more than a little disconcerted, "I guess that just means that ole Pomfrey must be more of a master healer than I thought if she cannot only heal burns like that, but bring people back from the dead too." The words resounded in his head. 'I was dead…' Did that mean the fiery place he'd gone to was Hell? Surely he hadn't fallen that far.
The Professors glanced at one another, sharing meaningful looks as though they knew something he and Potter didn't. Draco narrowed his silver eyes at them, sick of the secrets being kept from him as always. Potter beat him to it though.
"What does he mean, Sir? What are you keeping from me this time?" Draco was startled by the sudden look of anger on the raven haired boy's face. " I'm sick of your secrets, stop trying to control me and give me a straight answer for a change! What happened out there and why?"
Dumbledore gave a sigh. He knew now that he no longer had a hold over the boy who lived, he could orchestrate things to his liking no longer; it was now time for fate to take over.
"A prophecy has been set into motion," The old wizard began. "One that has been waiting to be fulfilled for centuries. Well, we call it prophecy, though it is more of a legend really. I understand that I can no longer influence things and so I will tell you all I know so that you both can go on and do what you must."
Snape and McGonagall were looking at the elderly Headmaster in shocked curiosity; likewise expressions were mirrored in the bedridden teenagers faces as they glanced at each other in anticipation.
"I have a suspicion that your fates were linked together and now because of this I am certain. Draco when you were pulled from the lake by Harry you were already dead and the lakes waters were boiling and enflamed with the heat your blood generated. Harry was covered in serious burns and welts and had fallen unconscious by the time we reached you."
Dumbledore paused, eyeing the two boys closely. "Understand that you were dead Draco, make no mistake of this, you were not breathing and no brain activity was present. Yet, somehow, you managed to come back to the living and heal Mr Potter in the process."
Harry looked dumbfounded at Draco who studiously ignored the stares he was getting. "Go on," he muttered impatiently.
"This is unprecedented but I have a feeling I know what it is connected to. The Malfoy family history has always been a complex issue filled to the brim with secrets and mysterious goings on and while I can't tell you anymore about the matter because I have nothing but guesses on the subject," Draco frowned, "I can tell you where you might find some answers."
Harry perked up at this and started to speak before he was cut off by Draco. "What does Potter have to do with my family history?"
"As I said, his destiny is linked in with yours and the choices you make will affect his path in this world. You will find out more when you visit the Ministry of Magic."
Draco sighed and Harry looked determined. 'Why would I want to be going there?' the blond Slytherin thought to himself. This wasn't what he had bargained for. Who would have thought a few measly hours could make such a difference to someone's life? One moment he was turning his back on his father, the next he had apparently been killed by said father, brought back to life after being rescued by the boy who lived healing Golden Boy in the process and now he was being sent off on some mad-cap expedition to uncover his family's, dubious to say the least, past.
Dumbledore was speaking again. "The department of Mysteries will be your destination, however this time you will not be entering the wing that holds the prophecies but the section for books of purposes unknown or considered otherwise dangerous. The book you two will be looking for should be instantly recognizable and if I am right should call to you especially Draco. Upon finding this book you will know what to do and that is where you must make your choices for the future. That is all I have to say other than good luck and that you do not have an appointment so it might be wise to exercise a mite of caution."
The boys were let out the hospital wing the next day having been checked and checked over again by Madame Pomfrey. Since the incident at the lake neither of the two felt the need for the constant conflict between them and an uneasy truce had resulted. Harry had told Ron and Hermione all that had conspired and, after a reasonably sincere apology from Draco, had accepted the situation and were willing to help in any way they could. Hermione being slightly more forgiving than Ron who was still sore from bearing the brunt of most of Draco's malice since the day they met.
While the shaky foundations of a new friendship with the Gryffindors were being laid, it seemed the opposite was happening with the Slytherins. Upon discovering that Draco had in fact turned his back on his Death Eater father and entered into some sort of deal with the 'golden trio' the entire Slytherin house had taken a unanimous stand against him; threatening bodily harm if they ever got him alone. Blaise Zabini was the only one out of the collective who showed signs of still being friendly and for that Draco was grateful as it meant he had someone to relate to, if not in terms of volatile blood.
The five of them were currently finishing up in a quiet corner of the library, making plans for tonight's venture. They had all agreed that today was the best time to go as it was a Saturday and so no one would notice who was around and who wasn't due to Hogsmead visits and no set timetable.
"So it's settled then," stated Hermione in a business-like tone. "Blaise, Harry, Draco and I will enter the ministry under the invisibility cloak while Ron, having taken a couple of drops of the aging potion we brewed last week will walk casually to the Department of the Paranormal. As Percy works in the ministry Ron can easily be mistaken for his brother with the added age and by wearing a spare set of Percy's work robes that we got hold of from the twins."
"Question," said Blaise, raising his hand in a mocking way, "Why the Department of the Paranormal?"
Hermione sighed. "I already told you because it's the corridor right opposite the Department of Mysteries and if we get caught it's better to be in the place we weren't trying to get to. Plus it'll mean we won't be noticed under the invisibility cloak opening doors and such as we can follow him when he goes through so no one'll be the wiser."
Ron and Blaise shared a confused glance while Harry rolled his eyes and Draco looked bored.
"Moving on. Blaise and myself will be stationed at the entrance to the Department of the Paranormal under the cloak so we'll be in prime position to stand guard. We'll be keeping an eye out for Harry and Draco while they go into the Department of Mysteries and get the book which, as it is supposed to call to Draco, shouldn't be difficult to find."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Draco lifted his head off his arms.
"So what time should we meet?" He asked.
"Half eight?" Suggested Harry, "That way we can get to the ministry at around nine when it's already dark, but some people will still be working late so we won't look out of place?"
"Good idea," conceded Draco, grudgingly. The group muttered their ascent.
"See you all later then," said Hermione after the disappearing Slytherins, "Eight thirty in the Entrance Hall and wear dark clothes."
AN - I know there wasn't a great deal of action in this chapter but I had to set the story up for the Ministry of Magic trip which will turn up in the next installment. Please RandR, I love hearing what you have to say and any advice is greatly appreciated.
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